US intelligence agencies warned President Donald Trump’s administration that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may take steps that could jeopardize efforts to secure a lasting peace agreement with Iran, The Washington Post reported, citing American officials.
According to the newspaper, intelligence assessments indicate that “Israel” appears determined to continue military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a stance that directly conflicts with a key provision of the emerging agreement, which calls for an end to hostilities there.
The developments come as Netanyahu faces mounting domestic pressure to sustain the military campaign in Lebanon, amid growing tensions between his government and Trump administration officials. US officials have publicly warned “Israel” that further attacks on Hezbollah could derail the agreement Trump is seeking to finalize.
Officials said a recent intelligence assessment concluded that Netanyahu’s political future, with elections approaching this autumn, is closely tied to convincing his support base that he will not withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanon and remains prepared to escalate the confrontation with Hezbollah.
Exclusive: U.S. intelligence agencies have warned the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to take steps that will undermine President Trump’s effort to reach a lasting peace deal with Iran. https://t.co/LF1mowtp08
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 19, 2026
The assessment also found that “Israel” is dissatisfied with several provisions of the US-Iran agreement, arguing that they undermine its objective of maintaining maximum pressure on Tehran.
According to the report, many within Israel believe the deal could restrict the country’s ability to confront Hezbollah, while any withdrawal from Lebanon or end to the conflict could be viewed domestically as a political defeat for Netanyahu.
Earlier, Trump stated that Washington expected a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon, following the entry into force of the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran last Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Switzerland announced the cancellation of a meeting that had been scheduled for Friday between US and Iranian officials. CNN reported that Tehran had requested guarantees that Israeli attacks on Lebanon would cease before resuming negotiations with Washington in Switzerland.
The war has continued despite the signing of the US-Iran memorandum, which also stipulates an end to attacks in Lebanon. On Friday alone, 47 people were killed and 97 wounded in a series of intensive Israeli airstrikes targeting areas in southern and eastern Lebanon.
The escalation followed the deaths of four Israeli soldiers, including the commander of the 52nd Battalion, during clashes with Hezbollah, which accused Israel of violating the ceasefire.
The latest violence marks the most severe escalation since the signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, which called for an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Since the launch of the Israeli enemy’s expanded military offensive on Lebanon on March 2, at least 3,912 people have been killed, more than 12,000 injured, and over one million displaced, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
Source: Al-Manar Website