Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly urged President Donald Trump to restart military action against Iran before the upcoming elections in Israel and the United States, the Times of Israel reports. While the President has not made a final decision, he has reportedly told the Israeli leader that he can “go ahead and prepare” for potential operations.
This development surfaced on Tuesday after reports highlighted the tension surrounding these discussions. Although the President has publicly stated he will not resume attacks before the midterm elections, sources suggest the Israel Defense Forces and CENTCOM are maintaining a high state of readiness. They are finishing up preparations in case the President changes his mind, as he has reportedly shifted his stance on the issue every few days.
One American source noted that Netanyahu “has discussed the issue” of starting attacks again “several times.” Even with the instruction to prepare, the President has not made an official commitment to actually approve an attack, meaning he could order one now, later, or never.
There is a clear divide on the motivations behind these talks
Some officials believe the Prime Minister wants to launch an attack because he is worried about Iranian steps in the nuclear arena. However, other US officials suggest the administration is well aware of the domestic political climate in Israel. One official remarked that the Prime Minister “believes his strength is tied up in being a wartime prime minister.” Critics argue that starting a conflict now would be a politically motivated move.
The Prime Minister’s Office has denied that Netanyahu is seeking to start a war. In a statement, the office said, “The prime minister maintains an ongoing dialogue with President Trump and senior US administration officials, and does not address the content of the conversations between them.” Meanwhile, the White House has remained quiet on the matter.
Inside Israel, the situation is complicated. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has reportedly warned that renewed fighting could force the postponement of the October 27 election. Furthermore, security officials state that there has been no shift in intelligence regarding Iran that would justify a military operation in the next two to three weeks. While Iran has conducted recent ballistic missile tests, the military assesses that its efforts to rebuild a deteriorated missile program remain partial and slow.
The President continues to take a hard line against Iran in his public remarks. On Tuesday, he described the nation as a “failed country” with an economy in shambles. He stated, “They have no economy. They have 300 percent inflation. They have no money. They’re not paying their troops. They’re not paying anybody.” He later added, “Wait until you see what we do to Iran. We’re going to do a number.”
Despite these aggressive comments, the President has not yet endorsed any candidate in the Israeli election. When asked about it on Tuesday, he said, “We haven’t even thought about it. I may be doing something.”
As of now, the uncertainty remains high. Trump has made similar threats in the past without following through. During a campaign rally in Ohio, he even joked about the current state of Iranian leadership, suggesting the US “might have gone too far” by targeting leaders during the war. Regardless of the rhetoric, the military remains on standby, waiting to see if the President will ultimately move forward with another strike.
Published: Oct 19, 2026 06:45 pm