President Trump acknowledged that he sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu during a phone conversation earlier this week, while emphasizing that the two leaders continue to maintain a strong working relationship despite growing tensions over Israel’s military activity in Lebanon.

Speaking during an interview on Miranda Devine’s “Pod Force One,” Trump confirmed reports that he had called Netanyahu “…crazy” during Monday’s discussion. The president explained that his frustration stemmed from Israel’s ongoing strikes in Lebanon, which have complicated Washington’s efforts to secure a broader agreement with Iran.

“I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon,” Trump said.

The continued attacks have become a major obstacle in negotiations with Tehran. Iranian officials have reportedly insisted that Israeli operations against Hezbollah come to an end before any agreement can be finalized involving the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Despite the disagreement, Trump stressed that his relationship with Netanyahu remains positive.

“We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,” Trump insisted after confirming his fiery outburst demanding that Netanyahu hold fire.

Trump characterized both himself and Netanyahu as leaders operating under the pressures of wartime.

“I’m a wartime president,” the commander-in-chief told Devine for the new podcast episode, out Wednesday. “He’s a wartime prime minister.”

While acknowledging concerns that the conflict could disrupt a larger diplomatic breakthrough, Trump expressed confidence that a resolution remains within reach. He predicted that an agreement could be achieved soon and pointed to the strength of the American economy as evidence that the United States can withstand temporary instability in energy markets.

“Everyone said it was going to be $300, $400 a barrel, it’s $98 a barrel but that’s not a big price to pay if you look at the possibility of them having a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Negotiators have been working toward a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, potentially easing pressure on global energy supplies and helping to reduce fuel costs that have driven inflation higher.

Those efforts, however, have repeatedly encountered setbacks. Officials have cited Iranian reversals on previous understandings as well as lengthy internal communication procedures within the Islamic Republic, which have reportedly been adopted to protect Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei from assassination threats.

Even with negotiations moving slowly, Trump indicated he is not feeling pressured to rush a final agreement.

The president suggested that the U.S. naval blockade surrounding Iranian ports could theoretically continue through Labor Day on Sept. 7, though he said he does not expect that scenario to occur. Such a prolonged standoff would likely keep fuel prices elevated throughout the summer and could create political challenges for Republicans ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

“I don’t know. I mean, I think it could be [closed through Labor Day], but I think it’s unlikely. I think that we’ll have it. I think this will resolve itself fairly quickly,” he said.

Throughout the interview, Trump maintained an upbeat tone regarding the negotiations, describing the discussions as moving rapidly and predicting favorable outcomes.

Trump stuck largely to his optimistic framing and said talks with Iran are “rapidly evolving” and “we’re not going to have a nuclear weapon and lots of other good things are going to happen.”

Reports of Trump’s harsh remarks toward Netanyahu first surfaced Monday in an Axios report. The disclosure prompted skepticism from some pro-Israel commentators, including Mark Levin, who argued that publication of the comments benefited Iran and called for an FBI investigation into the source of the leak.

The administration has spent months attempting to bring the conflict to a close. The war began on Feb. 28 and was originally expected to last only about four weeks.

Although a cease-fire took effect on April 7, the broader tensions have continued to affect global shipping and energy markets. During the cease-fire period, both American and Iranian military forces significantly restricted commercial movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.

Trump also discussed Mojtaba Khamenei, saying he believes the Iranian leader plays a central role in determining how the conflict will ultimately end. Trump noted that Khamenei’s influence has grown following Israeli airstrikes that killed his father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with other relatives at the outset of the war.

Trump said he believes that Khamenei is “involved, absolutely” in making decisions about how to end the war and that “they have a lot of respect for him” after Israeli airstrikes assassinated his father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and other members of his family on the first day of the war.

The president also signaled openness to meeting with the Iranian leader if circumstances permit.

“I’d like to meet him,” Trump said of Mojtaba, 56.

“I’d love to meet everybody. I would like to meet him, and we probably will meet at some point, depending on how it all works out.”

{Matzav.com}