“He’ll Do Whatever I Want Him To Do”: Donald Trump’s Big Claim About Netanyahu Amid Iran Talks

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that talks with Iran were in the "final stages" and warned that Washington was prepared to take "a little bit nasty" military action if diplomacy failed, while also claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will do whatever I want him to do" on decisions related to Iran.

Speaking to reporters, Trump described how close the United States had come to further strikes in recent weeks. Six weeks after Trump paused Operation Epic Fury as part of a ceasefire effort, Trump said he had recently held back again, suggesting Washington was still weighing military options while keeping diplomatic channels open with Tehran.

US-Iran negotiations and Trump’s warning over future military action

Trump said negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with Iran had moved to a decisive phase. "We're in the final stages of Iran. We'll see what happens. Either have a deal, or we're going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won't happen," Trump said, stressing that Washington would allow diplomacy one chance before choosing its next step.

Trump added that he was not rushing the US-Iran negotiations, but again underlined that military force remained an option. "We're going to give this one shot. I'm in no hurry," Trump said. "Ideally, I'd like to see a few people killed, as opposed to a lot. We can do it either way." Trump’s comments pointed to limited progress despite ongoing talks.

US-Iran negotiations and claims about Iran’s military strength

Later the same day, Trump claimed that Iran’s navy and air force had already been destroyed, saying that the main question now was whether the United States would resume full-scale military operations or if Tehran would accept a negotiated settlement. Trump also cautioned that Iran might face strikes "even harder", even as some reports suggested movement towards a possible peace agreement.

According to Al Arabiya, which cited unnamed sources on Wednesday, efforts to finalise the wording of an agreement between Washington and Tehran were still underway, and an announcement about the completion of the US-Iran negotiations could be made within hours. However, officials from Iran accused Trump of trying to rekindle the conflict rather than secure a lasting ceasefire.

US-Iran negotiations, Iranian warning of wider regional war

Tehran responded with a strong warning about any renewed US attack linked to the US-Iran negotiations. The Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that "If aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time". Iranian officials argued that any further strikes would draw in a wider area than West Asia and would not be limited to previous fronts.

#WATCH | On Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump says, "Hell do whatever I want him to do. Hes a very good man. Hell do whatever I want him to do...hes not treated right in Israel, in my opinion. Im right now at 99% in Israel. I could run for prime… pic.twitter.com/YPnIPe1r6b

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2026

Diplomatic efforts around the US-Iran negotiations continued alongside the rhetoric. Pakistan’s interior minister arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, reinforcing Islamabad’s role as an intermediary. Pakistan had hosted the only round of peace talks held so far and has since acted as a channel between Washington and Tehran, trying to sustain communication while the two sides argued over terms.

US-Iran negotiations and Trump’s comments on Netanyahu, Israel politics

During the same media interaction, Trump was asked about recent discussions with Netanyahu and any message regarding a possible military strike on Iran, which is closely linked to the US-Iran negotiations. Trump replied directly: "He'll do whatever I want him to do. He's a very good man. He'll do whatever I want him to do," presenting Netanyahu as closely aligned with Washington’s stance.

Trump also defended Netanyahu against criticism at home, telling reporters that "he's not treated right in Israel, in my opinion". Trump then joked about personal popularity in Israeli politics, saying, "So maybe after I do this, I'll go to Israel, run for prime minister," and adding, "I had a poll this morning. I'm right now at 99 per cent in Israel."

Trump’s remarks coincided with a period of political uncertainty in Israel, which could influence the context of the US-Iran negotiations. Lawmakers advanced a bill backed by Netanyahu’s ruling coalition that would dissolve parliament and trigger early elections. The measure passed an initial vote on Wednesday and, if finally approved, would shift the current election date from 27 October to a vote held 90 days after dissolution.

Surveys reported by news agency AFP suggested that Netanyahu might struggle if elections were moved forward, with some polls indicating possible defeat. As these political developments unfolded in Israel, the United States pressed ahead with the US-Iran negotiations, while Iran issued threats of a broader regional war and Pakistan tried to maintain dialogue, leaving the outcome of both diplomacy and domestic politics uncertain but firmly tied to decisions in Washington and Tehran.