Netanyahu pressed Trump to resume Iran war before elections, report says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has discussed with US President Donald Trump the possibility of resuming the war against Iran, Israel’s Channel 12 reported, with senior American officials saying they were struck by his interest in acting before the elections. Israel votes on 27 October and the US holds midterms on 3 November. Netanyahu has held several calls with Trump in the past two weeks about a large-scale joint US-Israeli operation targeting Iranian military sites and nuclear facilities, according to the report. Netanyahu cited "worrying new Iranian steps in its nuclear programme" as a reason for renewed war. Trump has said he will not attack Iran before the vote, but the Israeli military and US Central Command are on high alert and finalising preparations in case he changes his mind, Channel 12 reported, citing sources. “Bibi spoke to the president about it several times, and the president told him, ‘Well, you know what, Bibi, go ahead and get ready,’” an American official was quoted as saying. “‘Go ahead and get ready’ could be now, could be later, and could be never.” According to an Israeli official cited by Channel 12, Netanyahu told defence chiefs it was Trump who raised the idea and asked whether Israel would join. Netanyahu’s office denied the report, saying the prime minister “does not address the content of the talks”, Channel 12 said.