Trump's claim of control over Netanyahu damages U.S. credibility in Middle East diplomacy

Trump told the BBC on June 8 that Netanyahu complies with his directives. Yet Israel struck Iranian military targets days earlier despite Trump's explicit requests to delay and pursue diplomacy. The contradiction reshapes how Iran, Gulf states, and European partners assess whether U.S. diplomatic pledges carry operational weight. When the superpower patron's stated influence proves hollow, allies and adversaries alike recalibrate their threat calculations and negotiating positions.