Netanyahu Says Attack on Iran Is “Not Convenient” Now, a Day After Reports He Urged Trump to Strike Before Elections
Israel's prime minister told Army Radio on Wednesday that a strike on Iran is not advisable before Israel's Oct. 27 election, a day after Israel's Channel 12 and Axios reported he had pressed President Trump to renew military operations. Both leaders' offices denied the reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that neither Israel nor the United States should attack Iran in the coming days, telling Army Radio that such a move is, “in my opinion, not convenient for us,” ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election.
The remarks came a day after Israel’s Channel 12 News and Axios reported that Netanyahu personally urged President Donald Trump last week to consider another major military offensive against Iran before Israel’s Oct. 27 election and the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections. The report, by Barak Ravid, cited two senior American administration officials, a senior Israeli official and a fourth person familiar with the discussions. Netanyahu reportedly pointed to what he described as recent Iranian nuclear activities as the reason to act.
According to the reports, Trump encouraged continued military preparations but stopped short of authorizing an attack. One senior U.S. official told Channel 12 the president said, “go ahead and get ready,” without giving any commitment on whether or when an operation might take place. The Prime Minister’s Office denied that Netanyahu was pressing to restart the war before the election, and a White House official disputed that the two leaders had discussed resuming the war at all, restating Trump’s position against attacking Iran before the American midterms. Netanyahu said Wednesday he hopes Iran does not try to disrupt the vote; he has warned that Tehran could attempt to interfere directly or through Hamas or Hezbollah.
Military preparations continue
U.S. Central Command and the Israel Defense Forces remain on alert, and the Pentagon has told CENTCOM to complete preparations for possible strikes, according to Axios. The report said the options under examination include Iranian nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure and other strategic sites. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior CENTCOM commanders are reportedly among the strongest advocates of another major offensive inside the administration, while other presidential advisers favor continued economic sanctions and financial pressure on Tehran instead.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has raised concerns about the timing. According to the report, Zamir told his American counterpart, Gen. Dan Caine, that a new American-Israeli operation could provoke a heavy Iranian missile response against Israel and make it impossible to hold the Oct. 27 election as scheduled. Netanyahu also told Army Radio that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir would not become defense minister in the next government, saying, “Defense will remain in Likud.”
Trump said Tuesday that a decision on Iran could come “very soon.” Last week he said publicly that the United States would not resume attacks before the Nov. 3 midterms. Qatari mediators are awaiting Iran’s response to the latest American proposal aimed at ending the conflict, according to the report.
Reporting based on coverage by Matzav.com, BanglaSun and Axios reporting via Channel 12.
