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The Global Story

Do Trump and Netanyahu have conflicting end goals on Iran?

The Global Story

BBC

Daily News, News

3.8668 Ratings

🗓️ 6 March 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the war on Iran is the culmination of a long-standing political ambition. On Sunday, Netanyahu said he was finally doing what he had “hoped to achieve for 40 years – to crush the regime of terror completely.” Polling suggests the war is popular in Israel too.

But it’s a lot more complicated for Donald Trump. He was elected on a promise to end foreign wars, and current polling suggests the war is not supported by most Americans.

We talk to the BBC’s international editor Jeremy Bowen about whether this war, which Netanyahu says is an opportunity, complements or collides with Donald Trump’s own interests. And ask if Benjamin Netanyahu has everything to gain from this war, and Donald Trump a lot more to lose?

Producers: Lucy Pawle and Sam Chantarasak

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 29, 2025.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

0:05.8

For Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the war on Iran is the culmination of a long-standing political dream.

0:13.9

Standing on the rooftop of the Israeli military headquarters this week,

0:22.8

Netanyahu said that he was finally doing what he's, quote,

0:26.2

hoped to achieve for 40 years to crush the regime of terror completely.

0:33.0

And polling suggests the war is popular in Israel too.

0:38.9

But it's a lot more complicated for Donald Trump.

0:42.2

New polling from NBC News shows a majority of Americans survey disapprove of the president's

0:48.4

handling of this situation in Iran.

0:51.0

The results of our brand new CNN exclusive poll,

0:58.7

59% of Americans in this poll say they disapprove of the action.

1:03.2

Americans do not feel like they have been given a clear explanation of what the U.S. goals are.

1:05.0

600% say they have not.

1:09.6

With elections on the horizon in Israel and the United States,

1:11.9

the stakes are high for both leaders.

1:18.6

Netanyahu says the war is an opportunity, but does that opportunity complement or collide with Donald Trump's own interests?

1:22.1

From the BBC, I'm Tristan Redmond in London.

1:26.4

And today on the global story, does Benjamin Netanyahu have everything to gain from this war?

1:32.6

And Donald Trump, a lot more to lose.

1:42.6

Jeremy, the BBC's international editor, thank you so much for joining us again.

1:47.7

We are at the end of a pretty momentous week in the Middle East, so we're very happy to have you here to help decipher it all.

1:55.9

We are talking to you on Thursday morning.

...

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