Trump and Netanyahu reportedly discussed possible joint strikes on Iran ahead of US and Israeli elections, a claim denied by the White House
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of launching a major joint operation against Iran before elections in both countries, with Netanyahu raising concerns about Tehran's efforts to rebuild its nuclear programme, according to an Axios report citing US and Israeli officials and other sources familiar with the matter.The discussions took place last week, before Trump said he would not strike Iran ahead of the US midterm elections.The report said Netanyahu had held several calls with Trump over the past two weeks about resuming major combat operations against Iran.According to an Israeli official cited in the report, Netanyahu told Trump he was concerned about Israeli intelligence suggesting that Iran was taking troubling steps to reconstitute its nuclear programme.
Israel is particularly worried about the possibility of Iran operating Pickaxe Mountain as a uranium enrichment site.The two leaders discussed a potential joint US-Israeli operation targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities, the report said.However, the White House disputed the account that Trump and Netanyahu had discussed resuming the war. A White House official called the report's claim "false", adding, "The President has said that we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections."
Netanyahu's office said the prime minister maintained regular contact with Trump and senior US administration officials but did not comment on the content of their conversations.
Trump weighs options
According to the report, Trump initially appeared inclined to resume attacks but later grew more hesitant. A US official said the president had been going back and forth on the issue."Bibi seems to want to go in again. He has talked to the president about it a couple times, and the president has said, 'Well, you know, Bibi, go ahead and get ready.'
But there's really no commitment. 'Go ahead and get ready' is maybe now, maybe later, maybe never," Axios quoted the official as saying.US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and the leadership of US Central Command are the strongest supporters of renewed strikes, a source familiar with the discussions told Axios. Most of Trump's advisers, however, favour continuing economic sanctions and other forms of pressure for now."They claim this economic choking is working better and better. Let's keep it up," a second US official said.Trump's senior cabinet members had also met for hours at Camp David on October 2 to discuss the next steps in the war and the possibility of resuming strikes, the report said.Despite uncertainty over the decision, the Israeli and US militaries remain on alert and are completing preparations to be ready if Trump changes his position, according to the sources cited by Axios.
Election risks
A renewed military campaign could have significant consequences for both leaders ahead of the Israeli elections on October 27 and the US midterm elections a week later.Iran could retaliate by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, potentially disrupting the Israeli election process.According to a source briefed on a call, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir spoke last week with US Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine about the possibility of resuming full-scale fighting against Iran within the next three weeks.Zamir said a resumption of hostilities within that timeframe could lead to the Israeli elections being postponed because of the likely Iranian retaliation, the report said. Caine's spokesman, Joe Holstead, declined to comment.The report also highlighted concerns that a strike before the elections could be perceived as a political move by Netanyahu, potentially undermining public trust in the Israeli military, which is widely viewed as apolitical.One US official said the White House was aware of Netanyahu's domestic political calculations."Bibi's got an election before the midterms. He believes his strength is being a wartime prime minister," the official said as per the report.However, an Israeli official told Axios that Netanyahu had recently told his security and intelligence chiefs that Trump, rather than Netanyahu, had initiated the discussion about a possible attack before the elections.According to that account, Trump had asked Netanyahu whether Israel would join the operation.