UMVA has learned that behind-the-scenes tensions between the US and Israel over Iran were part of a deliberate strategy to keep Tehran off balance, according to a leading defense analyst.
The public display of discord, which saw President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engage in tense phone calls and leaks to the media, was a calculated move to conceal a unified front, the analyst revealed.
This strategic effort culminated in a weekend of synchronized messaging, with Trump and Netanyahu presenting a united front by Sunday, said Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at a prominent think tank.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a difficult phone call between the leaders focused on a revised US proposal sent to Iran via Pakistan, which Netanyahu reportedly rejected in favor of renewed military action to degrade Tehran's infrastructure.
The tension was palpable, with one insider describing Netanyahu as being on the brink of outrage after the exchange, his "hair on fire" with frustration.
Separately, Israeli leaders were reportedly being sidelined from US-Iran negotiations after Netanyahu's push for a joint campaign to topple the Iranian regime failed to materialize.
Netanyahu broke his silence on Sunday, posting a message declaring absolute solidarity with the White House and projecting a unified stance, saying "The partnership between us and our two countries has been proven on the battlefield and has never been stronger."
Michael viewed the public friction and targeted leaks as a clever tactical feint designed to keep Tehran guessing, saying "Neither President Trump nor Prime Minister Netanyahu has any interest in any crisis, but by leaking the story of a crisis between Trump and Netanyahu, the Iranians might find themselves surprised by the timing of the next military attack."
The analyst added that the leak created a sense of disagreement between the two leaders, positioning Trump as the leader who gives another chance to the diplomatic path despite Netanyahu's reported pressure for military action.
Following a weekend phone call, Trump reassured Netanyahu that any final agreement with Iran would fully dismantle Tehran's nuclear program, and Netanyahu said Trump also reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself against threats on every front.
Washington has been keeping Jerusalem updated on the negotiations, and Netanyahu thanked Trump for his "exceptional commitment to Israel's security."
The developments will serve the Israeli interest, Michael said, but skepticism remained in Jerusalem over whether the gaps between the US and Iran will be bridged, or whether Trump will accept the Iranian position.
