The United States and Israel are preparing for crucial elections that could reshape their respective governments, but concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions have brought the possibility of renewed military action back into focus.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the prospect of attacking Iran during a telephone conversation last week, Axios reported, citing two US officials, an Israeli official and another source familiar with the discussions.
According to an Israeli official, Netanyahu was concerned about intelligence received by Jerusalem suggesting that Iran was working to rebuild its nuclear programme. Trump, however, said on Thursday that the United States would not attack Iran ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November.
Despite that public position, the armed forces of both countries remain on alert and are continuing preparations for a possible strike should Trump change his mind, the report said.
Netanyahu pushes for renewed military action
A US official told Axios that Netanyahu wanted to resume attacks on Iran and had raised the possibility with Trump more than once. The US President reportedly told the Israeli leader to prepare for such an operation, without committing to a specific timeline.
“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,” the official was quoted as saying.
The account was disputed by the White House, which denied that the two leaders had discussed resuming the war with Iran. Netanyahu’s office also declined to comment on the substance of their conversations, saying the prime minister remained in regular contact with Trump and senior US administration officials.
The competing accounts leave uncertainty over whether Washington is seriously considering renewed strikes or merely preparing for a possible escalation.
Trump weighs military options against sanctions
An Israeli official said Trump initially appeared interested when the possibility of restarting the war was raised, but subsequently became more hesitant. A US official similarly described the President as going back and forth over the question.
The debate has also exposed differences within the US administration over how to deal with Tehran. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the leadership of US Central Command are among the senior officials reportedly supporting the option of another attack, according to a source familiar with internal discussions.
Some of Trump’s advisers, however, favour maintaining economic sanctions rather than returning to military action.
The uncertainty comes as both countries continue to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities and prepare for the possibility of a change in Washington’s position. Trump’s public statement against striking Iran before the November midterms has not, according to the report, ended military preparations.
Elections add a political dimension
The prospect of renewed hostilities also carries significant domestic political implications for Netanyahu, whose country is due to hold elections later this month, ahead of the US midterms in November.
A US official suggested that Netanyahu viewed his wartime leadership as an electoral advantage.
“Bibi's got an election before the midterms. He believes his strength is being a wartime prime minister,” the official said.
Netanyahu, however, recently told his security and intelligence chiefs that it was Trump, rather than the Israeli prime minister, who had first raised the possibility of striking Iran before the elections, an Israeli official said.
With the two governments facing political tests at home, the prospect of renewed military action remains uncertain. While Netanyahu is reportedly pressing for another campaign against Iran, Trump has yet to make a firm commitment, and divisions within his administration persist over whether military force or continued sanctions would better serve US interests.