Benjamin Netanyahu urges Donald Trump to target Iran following US midterms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging US President Donald Trump to authorize fresh military strikes against Iran once the upcoming US midterm elections conclude, according to regional officials and an individual with knowledge of the discussions.

Netanyahu is coordinating with prominent figures in the United States to convince Trump to initiate a rapid, wide-ranging air operation targeting Iranian sites, an official noted. The push comes at a politically fragile moment for the Israeli leader, whose coalition partners and far-right allies recently lost their majority in parliament following national elections. Observers suggest that reigniting a broader conflict with Tehran could provide Netanyahu with the domestic leverage needed to establish an emergency coalition government.

Meanwhile, Trump has displayed a fluctuating approach toward the situation, shifting between warnings of decisive military action and public interest in reaching a negotiated settlement with Tehran.

Despite the pressure for renewed military intervention, diplomatic channels remain active. According to the regional officials, negotiators from Qatar conducted two sessions of talks with Iranian representatives over the past week, signaling potential progress toward easing tensions.

The diplomatic framework currently being pursued by Qatari mediators focuses on de-escalating maritime conflict. Under the proposed terms, Iran would halt its assaults in the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States would agree to remove its naval blockade on Iranian shipping hubs and ports. Whether those discussions can avert a potential military escalation remains uncertain as political dynamics unfold in both Washington and Jerusalem.