United States President Donald Trump appeared to express frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of their meeting at the White House. Trump made the comments to Fox News on Tuesday, just hours before he and the Israeli prime minister were scheduled to meet in the Oval Office. This encounter marks their first such meeting since they jointly initiated military action against Iran on February 28.

Trump’s remarks came in response to reports suggesting Netanyahu planned to present intelligence related to Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, an underground nuclear site. The US president indicated that he did not need Netanyahu, whom he referred to by his nickname "Bibi," to inform him of such matters, suggesting Netanyahu was seeking to ensure his continued involvement.

"I know exactly what’s going on at Pickaxe. It’s not a big problem," Trump stated, questioning why the intelligence was announced publicly rather than shared privately. He implied that Netanyahu’s public announcement was an attempt to keep the US engaged in the ongoing conflict.

Tuesday’s meeting occurred during a sensitive period for Trump, who has recently engaged in diplomatic efforts with Iran following a 13-day escalation of hostilities. Trump has previously threatened further attacks on sites like Pickaxe Mountain and Iran's civilian infrastructure if diplomatic talks falter. This escalation followed the collapse of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran signed in June, which had led to a cessation of hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of a US naval blockade on Iran.

Netanyahu’s government had opposed the MoU and advocated for sustained military operations aimed at regime change in Iran. Meanwhile, US media reports have suggested that Netanyahu has frequently influenced Trump to pursue military action against Iran, both before the 12-day war last year and the current five-month conflict.

The ongoing conflict has faced significant public opposition in the US and growing dissent within segments of Trump's Republican party. Despite these pressures, Trump downplayed potential disagreements with Netanyahu in remarks to reporters on Monday, describing their differences on Iran as "a little difference" but indicating they were "pretty close."

During that same exchange, Trump also addressed Israel's opposition to the US resuming its F-35 program with Turkiye. He asserted the US's significant support for Israel, stating, "Frankly, we’re being very nice to a lot of countries that would not survive without us. And you know who wouldn’t survive without us? Israel."

The article highlights a potential divergence in strategy and communication between the two leaders regarding the handling of intelligence and the approach to Iran, despite their public facade of unity.