Unhappy With Iran Deal, Netanyahu Taps MAGA Media, Pro-Israel Senators To Sway Trump

Last Updated:June 18, 2026, 19:04 IST

Benjamin Netanyahu resists the US-Iran peace deal, using MAGA media and pro-Israel Senators to pressure Donald Trump as debate over Iran's nuclear future grows.

Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the US-Iran peace agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has started attempts to influence the deal by using MAGA media and pro-Israeli Senators to pressure President Donald Trump, CNN quoted an Israeli source.

United States President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Thursday signed a peace deal aimed at ending the months-long US-Iran war in West Asia. The agreement has opened a 60-day window for negotiations over the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.

The agreement has left Netanyahu in a difficult position just months ahead of Israel’s elections, after he had repeatedly promised the public “total victory" over Iran, according to Axios.

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Meanwhile, CNN quoted the Iranian source saying that Netanyahu still assesses there will not be a final deal between the US and Iran and that Tehran will not genuinely agree to restrictions on its nuclear programme.

The source further said that the Israeli PM is working to leverage right-wing media figures, such as pro-Israel podcaster Mark Levin. On Wednesday, Levin said the deal “doesn’t make any sense" and called the reconstruction fund for Iran a “slush fund."

After the deal was signed, CNN quoted Netanyahu telling Trump that Israel does not see itself as bound by the deal, which requires an “immediate and permanent termination" of the war in Lebanon. Israel has already scaled back its operations there under US pressure.

The PM is also reportedly trying to influence pro-Israeli Senators to persuade Trump.

“Reagan is rolling over in his grave," Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy said, referring to the former president whom Trump admires. “Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future."

He further said: “Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 [US] service members were still alive. Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped…This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades."

While Texas Senator Ted Cruz praised Trump for weakening Iran’s military, he also raised concerns about the financial provisions. “Is it giving $300 billion to the Iranian ayatollah?" Cruz asked on his podcast. “I hope not. I pray not."

Interestingly, even former vice-president Mike Pence said: “I would urge the President to take a step back, continue the blockade and pursue a negotiated settlement that commits Iran to dismantling their nuclear program, dismantling this missile program, ends support for terrorist proxies and opens the strait. Failing that, we should let our Armed Forces finish the job on our terms."

News world Unhappy With Iran Deal, Netanyahu Taps MAGA Media, Pro-Israel Senators To Sway Trump

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