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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to brief former President Donald Trump on potential new strikes against Iranian targets, underscoring the enduring and fraught dialogue between Washington and Jerusalem over how best to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence. The anticipated conversation reflects broader diplomatic and security challenges that have animated Middle East policy across successive U.S. administrations.
Netanyahu’s outreach to Trump signals continued close coordination between the two leaders, even as the U.S. government has changed hands. Netanyahu, who has long maintained that Iran poses an existential threat to Israel, has been advocating for a posture that combines firm deterrence with readiness to use military force if necessary. Trump, whose own tenure was marked by a confrontational stance toward Tehran — including the 2018 withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement — remains a prominent voice in conservative foreign policy circles and an influential figure among many of Israel’s political allies.
According to Israeli officials, the briefing would focus on intelligence assessments and strategic options related to Iran’s nuclear program and its regional activities. Tehran’s enrichment of uranium and development of missile capabilities have been sources of concern for Israel, which views a nuclear‑armed Iran as an unacceptable risk. In recent months, Israeli leaders have sounded alarms about what they describe as accelerated progress in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The potential for new Israeli strikes stems in part from these assessments. Israel has previously carried out covert and overt operations against Iranian assets in Syria and elsewhere and has been credited with cyberattacks and sabotage efforts aimed at slowing key elements of Iran’s program. An escalation of strikes — particularly if conducted overtly and at scale — would raise the stakes not only for Israel’s security calculus but for U.S. interests and regional stability.
Trump and Netanyahu share a long political history, rooted in overlapping strategic concerns about Iran. During his presidency, Trump imposed broad sanctions on Tehran and pressured European allies to adopt stringent measures, arguing that tough economic pressure was necessary to curb Iran’s nuclear aspirations and disruptive activities across the Middle East. His approach drew both praise and criticism: supporters argued it held Iran accountable, while detractors said the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal narrowed diplomatic space and increased the risk of conflict.
Netanyahu’s planned briefing comes at a moment when U.S. officials have been signaling a desire to avoid a broader military conflagration in the Middle East. While Washington remains firm in opposing Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, the Biden administration and its successor have generally emphasized diplomacy and multilateral engagement — including working with European partners to manage the nuclear challenge, contain Tehran’s regional proxies, and calibrate sanctions so they remain effective without unduly inflaming tensions.
How Trump will receive Netanyahu’s briefing — and whether it will influence any future policy debates — is an open question. Trump has remained engaged in Middle Eastern issues since leaving office, comments on strategic matters, and maintaining relationships with allied leaders. A conversation focused on Iran could reinforce long‑standing themes in conservative foreign policy thinking, including skepticism of extended diplomatic negotiations and preference for pressure — whether economic or military — to achieve strategic objectives.
Even as the Israeli and U.S. governments coordinate, there are structural and political limits on what either can unilaterally accomplish. Israel’s military ambitions are shaped by the realities of geography, capability, and the risk of wider confrontation. For the United States, military action against Iranian targets would involve complex legal, political, and operational considerations, especially given the history of U.S. engagement in the Middle East and public sensitivity to new military commitments.
Analysts note that Netanyahu’s strategy reflects not only security concerns but also domestic political pressures. Netanyahu has faced repeated elections and coalition negotiations in recent years, and assertive postures on national security — particularly regarding Iran — resonate with key segments of his political base. Positioning himself as a defender against what he frames as an existential threat can consolidate support at home even in the face of controversy abroad.
Conversely, critics warn that escalating military action risks unintended consequences. A broader conflict with Iran could draw in regional actors, disrupt global energy markets, and endanger American personnel and interests in the Middle East. Diplomats and national security officials have long sought to strike a balance: deterring Iran’s most dangerous behavior while limiting the prospects for open warfare.
In Washington, lawmakers of both parties have underscored the need to monitor Iran’s activities closely, though they differ on how best to respond. Some advocate for a return to negotiated limits on Iran’s nuclear program, combined with rigorous inspection and enforcement mechanisms. Others support maintaining or increasing pressure until Tehran’s behavior changes substantively. What unites many in Congress is an insistence that U.S. policy serve clear strategic goals and avoid inadvertent escalation.
As Netanyahu prepares to brief Trump, the coming weeks will likely include intensified discussions within U.S. foreign policy circles about how to approach the intertwined challenges presented by Iran’s nuclear and regional activities. Whether the focus will be on bolstering deterrence, advancing diplomatic tracks, or a combination of both remains part of a broader debate about American leadership in a complex region.
