Key Points – As US-Iran nuclear talks show tentative signs of progress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, potentially with less than a day’s notice, a move that could derail President Trump’s diplomatic efforts.
-Trump has explicitly stated his preference for a negotiated deal and reportedly urged Netanyahu in a recent heated phone call to “stand down” from any unilateral military action.
-While Iran issues defiant warnings of retaliation if attacked, emergency discussions are underway between US and Israeli officials to navigate this high-stakes situation, with Israel fearing a weak deal.
Netanyahu Considers Iran Strike Despite Trump Deal Prospects
As nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran, as if by some miracle, appear to inch forward, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering militaristic actions that could derail President Trump’s plans. According to U.S. intelligence reports cited by The New York Times, Israel could launch a strike on Iranian nuclear sites with less than a day’s notice, even if President Trump secures a diplomatic agreement with Tehran.
The prospects of an Israeli strike are growing increasingly likely, too, with defense officials reportedly reviewing a menu of military options, including targeted airstrikes to multi-day operations that could unfold in densely populated areas.
If U.S. intelligence reports are right, Israel may be considering military action that risks a full-blown war in the region, potentially leaving the Trump administration in a difficult spot.
While Trump believes diplomacy can work, having explicitly called for a diplomatic solution with the Iranians, the president also presumably knows how little time he’d have to react if Israel follows through on these plans.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, Trump and Netanyahu recently engaged in a heated conversation over the telephone last week, during which the U.S. president made it very clear that he wants to handle Tehran diplomatically. “I want a diplomatic solution with the Iranians. I believe in my ability to make a good deal,” Trump reportedly said on the call.
The matter has reportedly prompted emergency talks between U.S. and Israeli officials.
Meanwhile, Iran is taking the threat seriously.
“Our hands are on the trigger,” Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami said this week. “If they make a mistake, they will face responses that will make them forget their past.”
In other words: If Israel moves, Iran fires first.
Trump Issues Warning
Trump hasn’t made his frustration with Netanyahu a secret. When asked whether he told the Israeli prime minister to stand down, Trump replied, “Well, I’d like to be honest, yes I did.”
“We’re having very good discussions with them,” Trump added.
For Trump, diplomacy is key to stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons as the country inches worryingly close, and after years of warnings that it was inevitable. For Netanyahu, however, Iran’s enrichment capabilities are a red line, and U.S.-Iran dialogue is appeasement.
The Israeli prime minister may well be right, but for Trump – an avowed peace advocate and dealmaker – this is just another problem that can be solved through diplomacy and tough talk.
Trump may just pull it off, too; Iran just floated the idea of allowing United Nations inspectors back into its facilities, and new discussions with the United States constitute the highest-level talks between the two countries since 2015.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
What Are Europe’s Best Weapons of War?
Pingback: Iran With Nuclear Weapons is the Real Threat, Not an Israeli Strike - National Security Journal