Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that he and US President Donald Trump are not always on the same page, as the US and Iran declare a peace agreement.
Speaking at a press conference on the evening of June 15, Mr. Netanyahu said: "President Donald Trump and I do not always share the same view. He is the US President, and I am the Prime Minister of Israel.
The Israeli leader emphasized that his responsibility is to protect Israel's security interests and that needs to be done wisely. He believes that such disagreements can still occur even in the most harmonious families.
When asked whether the US-Iran agreement goes against his position, Mr. Netanyahu did not answer directly. Instead, he emphasized the long-term relationship with Mr. Trump, and said that effective action requires experience and deep understanding of US politics.
The Israeli Prime Minister also avoided direct comments on the statements of the US and Iran regarding the peace agreement. He focused on mentioning what he described as major achievements from Israel's campaigns against Iran.
According to Mr. Netanyahu, whether or not there is an agreement, Iran will not possess nuclear weapons in the present or future. He affirmed that it will not happen as long as he remains Prime Minister of Israel.
The Israeli leader said that the struggle is not over and his country needs to continue to maintain vigilance, strength and determination to defend itself when necessary. He also declared that Israel has no plans to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon, the Gaza Strip or Syria.
We will continue to be present in security zones as long as it is necessary to protect the country," Netanyahu said.
Previously, President Trump criticized the Israeli Prime Minister in connection with the attack on the capital of Lebanon, Beirut on June 14. According to Mr. Trump, this action caused the process of reaching an agreement between the US and Iran to be stalled for several hours. The US leader expressed anger and said that Mr. Netanyahu "did not know how to assess the situation".
