Netanyahu: I have doubts about success of Trump’s Iran diplomacy, but ‘he should be given chance’

It is “too early to say what will happen” with Iran, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with CNN.

Netanyahu says “I have my doubts” about US President Donald Trump’s ability to stop Iran’s nuclear program through diplomacy, “but I think he should be given the chance.”

As he has done repeatedly in recent weeks, Netanyahu downplays the idea that there are serious strains in his relationship with Trump: “On the big things we see eye-to-eye, and occasionally we don’t.”

“Deal or no deal, I certainly will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons,” he promises, “and that is the president’s position.”

Netanyahu adds that “America has no greater ally in the world than Israel and Israel has no greater ally than the United States, and I say that with complete recognition of the fact that we sometimes see things a bit differently.”

“You’re a big country, you’re far away,” says Netanyahu, adding an implied dig at American understanding of the threats Israel faces. “We’re a small country, beleaguered, and close to these regimes that want to destroy us.”

Asked about the fight against Hamas, Netanyahu repeats his assertion that the terror group will disarm and Gaza will be demilitarized. He says he would prefer avoiding renewed large-scale combat in Gaza.