The Media Line: Netanyahu, President Trump Discuss Renewed Iran Strikes Ahead of Elections  

Netanyahu, President Trump Discuss Renewed Iran Strikes Ahead of Elections  

By The Media Line Staff  

President Donald Trump has not committed to a new military campaign against Iran despite discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over possible joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, N12 reported Tuesday.  

The possibility of renewed fighting has been raised several times in conversations between the two leaders over the past two weeks. According to US officials, Netanyahu appeared to favor resuming attacks before Israel holds elections on Oct. 27, pointing to concerns over renewed Iranian nuclear activity.  

President Trump has publicly said he would not attack Iran before the US midterm elections, while a senior US official described his position on renewed military action as repeatedly shifting.  

A senior Israeli official offered another account of the discussions. Netanyahu told Israeli security chiefs in recent days that President Trump was the one who raised a potential new campaign before the elections and asked whether Israel would participate.  

“Bibi spoke with the president about it several times, and the president told him, ‘Well, you know what, Bibi, go ahead and get ready.’ But he didn’t really give him any commitment. ‘Go ahead and get ready’ could mean now, it could mean later, and it could mean never,” a U.S. official said.  

President Trump appeared initially inclined to approve Netanyahu’s proposal before his interest diminished, according to a senior Israeli official.  

Preparations are continuing despite the absence of a decision. The Israel Defense Forces and US Central Command (CENTCOM) are on high alert and are completing readiness measures in case President Trump changes his position, according to the sources.  

Renewed fighting could affect both Israel’s Oct. 27 elections and the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3.  

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM are the leading supporters in the US administration of another large-scale military operation against Iran, a second senior US official said. Most of President Trump’s advisers instead support maintaining economic pressure and sanctions.  

“They argue that this economic strangulation is working better and better. Let’s keep doing it,” the second US official said.