'Arrogant' Netanyahu trying to pressure US into Iran attack, says Steve Bannon

Trump insider Steve Bannon has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to pressure the White House to approve a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Speaking on his podcast on Thursday, Trump's former chief strategist said Netanyahu had "forced his way" into two meetings with the US president and accused him of "arrogance" in trying to "force the issue".

Netanyahu has been to Washington twice since Trump's inauguration in January in a bid to lobby the White House into supporting Israel's escalation in Gaza and a military strike on Iran.

Bannon's comments come on the heels of a report in the New York Times that said that Trump rebuffed the Israeli leader's requests for the US to join the Israeli military in an attack.

According to NYT, Israeli officials presented plans to the White House for an attack in May, which were opposed by several key members in the Trump administration, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Rather than voice support for an Israeli attack, Trump used Netanyahu's visit to the White House last week to announce talks with Iran over its nuclear program, which according to Bannon were arranged without Netanyahu's knowledge.

"President Trump kind of dropped the bomb on him in the room—‘Hey, by the way, we’re actually in negotiations. We start this Saturday in Oman,'" he said on the Bannon's War Room podcast.

The US and Iran held a first round of talks in Oman on 12 April, which both sides described as "constructive". A second round is expected to take place in Rome on Saturday.

Trump has in recent weeks threatened to attack Iran if it pursues a nuclear weapon but has repeatedly said his preference is for a diplomatic outcome.

He reiterated his hope for a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear enrichment in the Oval Office on Thursday, but denied rejecting Israel's plans.

"I wouldn’t say waved off [an Israeli attack]," he told reporters.

"I’m not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death, and I'd like to see that. That's my first option."

Bannon was instrumental to building the 'Make America Great Again' movement that powered Trump to the White House in 2016, and served as his chief strategist in the early days of his first term in office.

Commenting on the NYT's story he said: "The New York Times story plays into the 'tail's wagging the dog'. You're not going to wag Trump. He could not be clearer."

Netanyahu has not denied the report but reiterated the government's opposition to Iran's nuclear program.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led the global campaign against Iran's nuclear program," his office said Thursday.

"Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons."