The disagreements emerged as the United States pursued an agreement with Iran aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy shipments. Netanyahu reportedly argued for maintaining pressure on Tehran and expressed skepticism about the durability and enforceability of any negotiated settlement.

According to the report, Israeli officials were surprised by Washington’s decision to move toward a diplomatic framework with Iran after months of military confrontation and coordinated efforts to contain Tehran’s regional influence.

During a series of conversations, Netanyahu questioned whether Iran could be trusted to adhere to any agreement and warned against easing pressure on its leadership. Trump, meanwhile, focused increasingly on preventing a broader regional war and minimizing the economic consequences of continued conflict, particularly disruptions to energy markets and maritime trade.

Differences between the two leaders also extended to Lebanon, where Trump reportedly objected to Israeli military operations that could jeopardize ongoing ceasefire initiatives.

The Washington Post reported that exchanges between the leaders became increasingly strained as Trump challenged the strategic value of certain military actions and urged greater restraint in order to preserve diplomatic momentum.

The tensions mark a significant departure from the close alignment that characterized much of the conflict. Throughout the war, Netanyahu had advocated a more aggressive approach toward Iran, presenting intelligence assessments and military proposals while encouraging stronger U.S. involvement.

Trump initially supported many of those objectives and maintained close oversight of developments on the battlefield. However, the report said he later rejected options that could have expanded direct American involvement or prolonged the conflict.

The evolving relationship reflects broader debates within Washington over how best to balance military deterrence with diplomatic engagement in the Middle East.

According to the report, Trump increasingly sought alternative assessments from advisers after discussions with Netanyahu, while some officials within the administration questioned whether domestic political considerations in Israel were influencing decisions related to military operations and regional diplomacy.

Despite the disagreements, the United States and Israel continue to maintain extensive security cooperation. Military coordination between the two countries reportedly expanded significantly during the conflict, with officials describing the level of operational collaboration as unprecedented.

Netanyahu has cultivated a close working relationship with Trump over the past year through frequent visits, regular consultations and public displays of solidarity. However, the latest differences suggest that diverging priorities over Iran, Lebanon and regional stabilization efforts are placing new strains on one of the Middle East’s most consequential strategic partnerships.

The reported disputes come at a critical moment as negotiators seek to transform the U.S.-Iran ceasefire arrangement into a broader settlement while international actors push for a durable ceasefire in Lebanon and greater regional stability.

In a statement issued Monday, Milanovic said Israeli diplomat Nissan Amdur “has not received, nor will receive” presidential approval to serve as ambassador in Zagreb.

Amdur was nominated in November to replace Israel’s current envoy to Croatia and is expected to arrive at the end of May in the capacity of chargé d’affaires, a diplomatic role that does not require formal presidential consent, according to Israeli media reports.

“Granting or withholding approval for proposed ambassadors is the sovereign right of the Republic of Croatia,” Milanovic said, while also accusing Israel of violating diplomatic convention by publicly announcing the nominee before Croatian approval had been secured.

The dispute reflects widening divisions within Croatia’s political leadership over the Gaza conflict. Milanovic, a left-leaning president known for outspoken criticism of Israeli military operations in Gaza, has repeatedly condemned the scale of civilian casualties since the outbreak of the war in October 2023.

Croatia’s conservative government has adopted a more supportive stance toward Israel and strongly condemned the Hamas-led attack on Israel that triggered the conflict.

Although Croatia’s president holds largely ceremonial powers, the office retains constitutional authority over the confirmation of foreign ambassadors.

The diplomatic disagreement comes amid continued international scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 72,000 people have been killed in the territory since the start of the conflict, with the United Nations and international agencies warning of worsening humanitarian conditions.

Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October, violence has persisted in Gaza, with Israeli forces and Hamas accusing each other of repeated violations of the truce.

Peace Now said Israel’s security cabinet approved the move “secretly” in early April, adding that the new settlements come in addition to 68 others authorized since the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu took office in 2022.

The Israeli defense ministry, which oversees settlement activity in the West Bank, declined to comment on the reports.According to Israeli media, including i24News, 10 of the newly approved sites are existing outposts previously considered illegal under Israeli law but now set to be retroactively legalized.

The remaining 24 settlements have yet to be constructed.News outlet Ynet reported that military chief Eyal Zamir warned during a security cabinet meeting on April 1 that increased operational demands, including the protection of additional settlements, could strain military capacity.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and settlements there are widely considered illegal under international law. More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the territory, excluding East Jerusalem, alongside approximately three million Palestinians.

Settlement expansion has been a consistent policy across successive Israeli governments, but rights groups say approvals, land seizures and settler-related violence have accelerated since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.