Netanyahu Backs Trump’s Iran Diplomacy, Says Israel Can Eventually End Reliance on US Military Aid

Washington, July 2026 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced strong support for US President Donald Trump’s efforts to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Iran, while asserting that Israel is steadily moving towards complete self-reliance in defence and could eventually reduce American military assistance to zero.

In an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press, Netanyahu said President Trump was right to pursue diplomacy before considering military action, particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme. However, he stressed that Washington must remain prepared to use force if Tehran fails to honour any agreement.

“I think President Trump wants to exhaust every possibility of reaching an agreement, especially on the nuclear issue, through negotiations,” Netanyahu said. “But he is also clear that if Iran violates its commitments, the United States is prepared to act. We should allow the President the opportunity to pursue diplomacy.”

Netanyahu’s remarks came amid renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran following a fresh round of US military strikes on Iranian targets and reports of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a separate appearance on the same programme, President Trump claimed that Iran had accepted what he described as “a perfect deal” before allegedly reversing course by launching a drone attack on a commercial vessel.

“They agreed to a deal yesterday, a perfect deal for us. No nuclear, no this, no that, no nothing. They gave up everything,” Trump said. “Then they left the room, and within an hour they launched a drone at a ship.”

Trump also confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for international shipping despite the heightened military tensions in the region. He added that US forces had conducted another round of strikes against Iranian targets overnight in response to what Washington described as continued provocations.

Reflecting on the close defence partnership between the United States and Israel, Netanyahu said the cooperation had played a decisive role in countering threats posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile programme.

“Israel is deeply grateful that America joined forces with us to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them,” Netanyahu said. “This is not only important for Israel’s security but also for the security of the United States and the broader Western world.”

At the same time, the Israeli leader indicated that his country’s growing military capabilities would eventually allow it to phase out dependence on American military assistance.

“We’ve come of age, and we’re able to gradually draw that assistance down to zero,” Netanyahu said, referring to long-standing defence support agreements negotiated under successive US administrations, including those of Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Netanyahu also paid tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, describing him as one of Israel’s strongest and most committed supporters in the United States Congress. Recalling discussions on military assistance, Netanyahu said Graham consistently advocated for greater US investment in Israel’s missile defence systems.

“He would often propose more support than even I requested as Prime Minister,” Netanyahu remarked. “He firmly believed that strengthening Israel’s security was also an investment in America’s own national security.”

Graham, who passed away on Saturday following a sudden illness, was widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in the US Senate backing Israel’s security and defence interests. Netanyahu said his support and commitment would be remembered by both nations.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)