Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed launching a major joint operation against Iran before their respective elections, according to multiple officials. The talks, which included conversations over the last two weeks, focused on potential strikes against military and nuclear targets in the Middle East. This deliberation occurred before Trump publicly stated he would not attack Iran ahead of the U.S. midterms.
The primary driver for the renewed military planning is Israeli intelligence indicating that Iran is reconstituting its nuclear program. Israeli officials expressed specific concern that Tehran may be operating Pickaxe Mountain as a uranium enrichment site. Netanyahu told Trump during a phone call that these developments were troubling and required a response. The potential for a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign would target both conventional military infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
White House officials have publicly denied the extent of these discussions. A White House official stated it is false that Trump and Netanyahu discussed resuming the war, reiterating that the President will not attack Iran prior to the midterm elections. Netanyahu’s office maintained that the Prime Minister maintains regular contact with Trump and senior U.S. administration officials but does not comment on the content of their conversations.
Behind the scenes, sentiment within the U.S. administration remains divided. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the leadership of U.S. Central Command are described as the strongest backers of resuming strikes. Conversely, most of Trump’s advisers favor continuing economic sanctions and other forms of pressure, arguing that this approach is becoming more effective. Trump has reportedly vacillated on the issue, initially appearing to lean toward resuming attacks before growing more hesitant.
The timing of any potential strike carries significant political risks for both leaders. Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir spoke with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine about resuming full-scale fighting within three weeks. Zamir warned that restarting the war in that timeframe could force a postponement of the Oct. 27 Israeli elections, as Iran would likely retaliate with hundreds of ballistic missiles. A strike before the election could also be perceived as a political ploy by Netanyahu, potentially eroding public trust in the military’s apolitical status.
U.S. officials are aware of Netanyahu’s domestic political calculations, noting that he believes his strength lies in being a wartime Prime Minister. In meetings with security chiefs, Netanyahu claimed that Trump initiated the discussion about striking Iran before the elections, suggesting the U.S. President asked if Israel would join. For Trump, a pre-election conflict could backfire by reminding voters of an unpopular war and potentially driving up gas prices.
Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel with military planning. Qatari mediators are waiting for Iran to respond to a latest U.S. counterproposal that includes demands for nuclear concessions. A U.S. official described the negotiations as neither dead nor alive, stating that pressure is being applied with the belief that rational actors in Iran will prevail. Trump told reporters on Tuesday that Iran is a failed country and that a decision on Iran will be made very soon.