President "Donald Trump" confirmed on Wednesday that he had called the Prime Minister of Israel "Benjamin Netanyahu" a "madman" and used profanity during a phone call on Monday, after which Israel cancelled planned airstrikes on "Beirut", the capital of Lebanon.
"A bit annoyed" by the operations in Lebanon
In an interview on Wednesday for the "Pod One" podcast, Trump was asked about reports claiming he called Netanyahu a "f***ing psycho" during the call. "Yes, that's how it was," he replied, according to "Reuters". According to him, he was "a bit annoyed" by Israel's military operations against "Hezbollah" in Lebanon, which, in his view, were undermining US peace negotiations with Iran.
According to an "Axios" report, citing an unnamed US official, during the Monday call, Trump told Netanyahu: "You're a f***ing psycho. You'd be in jail if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Now everyone hates you. Everyone hates you because of this." Trump added that he also said: "Bibi, you need to put an end to this. We need to stop."
Iran's ultimatum triggers intervention
The phone call took place after Iran announced on Monday a halt to all indirect negotiations with the United States due to the expansion of the Israeli military operation in Lebanon. The semi-official Iranian agency "Tasnim" reported that Tehran's negotiating team was ending "negotiations and exchange of texts through an intermediary" until Israel ceases hostilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister "Abbas Araghchi" stated that the ceasefire regime between Iran and the US "is unequivocally comprehensive, covering all fronts, including Lebanon," and that "a violation on one front means a violation on all fronts."
Cancelled strikes on Beirut and a partial truce
Following Trump's intervention, an Israeli official told "Axios" that the planned strikes on Beirut would not be carried out. Trump announced a partial ceasefire, under which Israel refrains from bombing the capital in exchange for "Hezbollah" refraining from attacks on Israel.
Combat operations in the south continue
Despite the agreement, Israel has not ceased ground operations and airstrikes in southern Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, four people were killed and over 100 injured as a result of Israeli strikes near a hospital in the southern city of "Tyre". "Hezbollah" continues to attack Israeli forces in the south, and the Israeli army intercepts projectiles fired at northern Israel.
Trump: dialogue with Iran continues
On Tuesday, Trump denied reports of a total collapse of US-Iranian negotiations, stating that "a dialogue between us is being conducted continuously" and warned Tehran: "The time has come — one way or another — to make a deal."