Israel is locked in high-stakes negotiations with the Trump administration over the future of southern Lebanon, as Jerusalem seeks to keep troops deployed in territory seized during its war against Hezbollah.

The dispute has opened a rare public rift between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, whose newly signed interim agreement with Iran includes language supporting Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Two Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel is engaged in what one senior official described as "stubborn negotiations" with the Trump administration over the continued deployment of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

The talks come just one day after Trump and Iran signed an interim memorandum of understanding that includes language calling for respect for Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

For Netanyahu, Lebanon has quickly become the most immediate flashpoint in the aftermath of the Trump-Iran accord.

According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu's government has no intention of withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon unless Hezbollah is disarmed and no longer poses a threat to northern Israel.

The senior Israeli official told Reuters that Israel would not back away from its position that forces must remain deployed south of Lebanon's Litani River. Israel views the area as a critical security buffer following months of fighting against Hezbollah.

Israeli forces expanded operations in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2 in support of Iran. Israel subsequently carried out an extensive air and ground campaign aimed at dismantling Hezbollah's military infrastructure.

The territory now falls within a broader Israeli strategy of establishing "buffer zones" along its borders. Similar security zones have been established in portions of Gaza and Syria, and Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected international calls for Israeli withdrawals.

The dispute over Lebanon is part of a larger crisis for Netanyahu following Trump's surprise announcement of the interim agreement with Iran.

While Trump has presented the accord as a diplomatic breakthrough that could lead to significant Iranian nuclear concessions, many Israeli officials view the agreement as a strategic setback that ended military pressure on Tehran before Israel achieved its stated objectives.

Netanyahu had promised Israelis "total victory" against Iran. Instead, Trump abruptly shifted toward diplomacy, leaving Israel scrambling to adjust.

Adding to Netanyahu's frustration, Israeli officials were not given the final text of the agreement before it was announced, Axios reported.

A U.S. official acknowledged that Netanyahu may not have seen the final version, although the White House insists Israel was regularly briefed throughout negotiations.

Trump himself publicly underscored the imbalance in the relationship.

Speaking at the G7 summit, the president praised Netanyahu while also reminding observers who holds the stronger hand.

"Bibi is a good man. He gets a little excited sometimes. But we have an amazing partnership. We are the big partner and he is the very small partner."

The comment followed reports that Trump had privately criticized Netanyahu after an Israeli strike in Beirut nearly jeopardized the negotiations.

The disagreement marks one of the most significant public splits between Trump and Netanyahu since Trump returned to office.

Netanyahu finds himself increasingly isolated.

Arab Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, have largely welcomed the agreement. Republican lawmakers and conservative media figures who typically support Israel have been reluctant to aggressively attack a deal personally championed by Trump.

As a result, Israeli officials have largely confined their criticism to anonymous briefings rather than public denunciations.

At the same time, some pro-Netanyahu media outlets in Israel have begun openly attacking members of Trump's team, reflecting growing frustration within Netanyahu's political camp.

The Lebanon provisions of the agreement may determine whether tensions between Washington and Jerusalem intensify.

The memorandum reportedly states that any final settlement would require Israeli forces to withdraw from Lebanese territory. Israeli officials argue that they are not bound by those provisions unless Hezbollah is effectively neutralized.

One Israeli official told Reuters that the outcome may ultimately depend on whether Trump decides to force the issue by imposing consequences if Israel refuses to comply.

Trump acknowledged the disagreement Wednesday, telling reporters: "We have a little dispute about Lebanon."

The White House has emphasized that any ceasefire arrangement would not be one-sided and that Israel would retain the right to respond if Hezbollah resumes attacks.

Administration officials also hope that the next 60 days can be used to negotiate a broader political settlement between Israel and Lebanon that could eventually allow for an Israeli withdrawal without appearing to concede to Hezbollah.