Live Updates: Iran and U.S. trade more missile strikes as 5-month war appears to expand to Egypt

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied that Israel is trying to scupper efforts to broker a peace deal between Iran and the United States.

Speaking Wednesday to ABC News, Netanyahu was asked about comments made by Vice President JD Vance on a podcast earlier this month. Vance alleged that some people in the Israeli government were “manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely.”

“Well, we’re not actually,” Netanyahu said. “I had a very good conversation with the vice president this morning, and I think we straightened that out, because we’re not. That’s not our policy.”

U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios the conversation was “frank” and “direct.”

Netanyahu said President Trump is driving decision-making when it comes to the Iran war.

“The truth is, we’re partners,” he told ABC. “We’re allies. He’s the senior partner. It’s the United States of America, let’s not forget, and I’m a junior partner. But I’m the Prime Minister of Israel, and when I have to stand up for the interest of my country and the security of my country, I do so.”

“But I always do so with a deep appreciation of the role that the United States under President Trump has played in joining forces with us against our common enemy that wants to destroy us both,” Netanyahu added.

Asked about prospects for a diplomatic resolution to the war, he replied: “I don’t know if it’s unlikely, but I’m skeptical about Iran’s modus operandi.”

“They always lie, they always cheat, and they always play for time,” Netanyahu added. “Could that, within sufficient pressure – diplomatic, economic pressure – could that change? Give it a try.”