While Washington Scrambles for an Elusive Exit Strategy and Peace Deal with Iran, Israel's Defiance Threatens a Permanent Regional War.
KATHMANDU — In the complex geopolitical arena of West Asia, historical lessons show that initiating a military campaign is far easier than concluding it with a clear victory. This reality is currently testing the limits of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Despite entering the conflict as closely aligned partners, a sharp divergence has emerged between Washington and Tel Aviv. President Trump is intensely focused on securing an elusive diplomatic exit strategy and a comprehensive peace deal with Tehran to lower global oil prices before the upcoming November midterm elections. Conversely, Netanyahu continues to pursue aggressive military operations against Iran and its proxies, standing firmly in the way of a permanent truce.
"I Call the Shots": Trump Reasserts Authority Amid Missile Salvos
The growing friction between the two long-time allies burst into the open following a dramatic weekend escalation. After an Israeli airstrike targeted a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut, Iran retaliated by launching a massive salvo of ballistic missiles directly at Israel, temporarily shattering a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since early April.
In an immediate response, President Trump took a remarkably blunt stance, publicly declaring his absolute authority over the direction of the war. "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn't call the shots," Trump stated firmly during a telephone interview with the Financial Times. Trump revealed that he explicitly instructed Netanyahu to refrain from launching any counter-strikes, emphasizing that the Iranian missile exchange would not be allowed to derail back-channel US-Iran negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance.
Defiance on the Ground: Netanyahu's Tactical Gamble
Despite explicit warnings from the White House, Netanyahu chose a path of defiance. On Monday, June 8, 2026, the Israeli Prime Minister ordered targeted retaliatory strikes inside Iranian territory, marking the first direct exchange of fire between the two regional heavyweights since April.
While Netanyahu later agreed to temporarily halt the strikes after intense social media pleading and behind-the-scenes pressure from Trump, his brief defiance served a powerful domestic purpose. Facing immense legal troubles and political vulnerability at home, Netanyahu’s willingness to stand up to Washington resonates strongly with his right-wing coalition. However, opposition figures, including former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot, have seized on the sudden halt, mocking Netanyahu by looping clips of Trump asserting that the Israeli leader "will do whatever I want him to do."
The Unintended Nightmare: Hostage to Regional Proxies
Washington's strategic calculations are further complicated by the reality that the US is increasingly becoming a hostage to the decisions of both Israel and Iran. Tehran has laid down a non-negotiable pre-condition for any final peace agreement or the reopening of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz: a permanent and complete Israeli ceasefire in Lebanon.
Because Hezbollah has rejected any unilateral truce and continues its rocket attacks, Israel has continued to bomb targets across Lebanon—nearly 3,500 times since the nominal ceasefire was established. This continuous cycle of violence effectively gives both Netanyahu and Iranian-backed proxies a veto over American foreign policy. Pentagon officials signaled Washington's deep displeasure by confirming that US forces completely sat out Israel’s recent strikes on Iran, only deploying interceptors to protect American troops stationed in the region.
The Path Forward
To break this paralyzing deadlock and prevent an uncontrolled, multi-front war, political analysts suggest Trump may have to take measures he has traditionally resisted. This includes threatening to withhold critical US military aid unless Israel strictly adheres to a ceasefire. Until Washington establishes a firm veto over Tel Aviv's unilateral military maneuvers, the dream of a grand West Asian peace deal will remain entirely out of reach.
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