Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of conducting a new large-scale military operation against Iran before elections scheduled in both Israel and the United States, according to multiple reports citing informed officials.
The conversation between the two leaders took place last week, according to the Axios news portal, which cited American and Israeli officials familiar with the matter. Netanyahu expressed concern during the call about Israeli intelligence assessments indicating that Iran was taking troubling steps to resume its nuclear program, officials said.
The timing of the discussion is significant. The conversation occurred before Trump publicly stated that he did not plan to strike Iran before the U.S. midterm congressional elections. Israeli elections are scheduled for October 27, with U.S. midterm elections taking place the following week.
According to an Israeli official cited by reports, Netanyahu raised concerns about what Israeli intelligence described as "Iran's nuclear movements." An Israeli Defense Ministry official stated that the regime was monitoring the activities of adversaries, particularly Iran and allied groups, for potential influence on election outcomes.
The reports indicate that both leaders discussed the timing of any potential operation in relation to the electoral calendar in both nations. The resumption of large-scale military operations against Iran would represent a significant and unpredictable factor during the election periods in both countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in coordination with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, had previously conveyed Tehran's vision regarding a possible resolution to the conflict to Trump, according to earlier reports.