Netanyahu urges Trump for post-midterm Iran strikes

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated as regional powers weigh military action against diplomatic resolution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing U.S. President Donald Trump to launch a new series of strikes on Iran following Tuesday's midterm elections in the United States. Two regional officials and a third person familiar with the matter confirmed that Netanyahu is advocating for this renewed pressure.

The push for war aligns with domestic political shifts in Israel. Netanyahu and his far-right allies lost their parliamentary majority in elections held last week. A return to full-scale conflict could assist the prime minister in forming an emergency government. Meanwhile, Trump has fluctuated between threatening major strikes and seeking a negotiated deal with Tehran.

Diplomatic channels remain active despite the military pressure. Qatari mediators held two rounds of talks with Iranian officials last week. The mediators are working to establish a framework in which Iran ceases attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. In exchange, the United States would lift its blockade on Iranian ports. Additional talks are scheduled for this week.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they discussed classified briefings from American and Israeli sources. One official stated that Netanyahu is working with senior U.S. administration officials to convince Trump to approve a quick but extensive air campaign. The president has not yet made a final decision.

Netanyahu raised the issue of strikes during a phone call with Trump over the weekend. A person briefed on the conversation said Trump would not commit to military action. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that the call was very good and that they discussed Iran, though he provided no specific details.

Other U.S. allies in the region warn against further strikes. A third regional official said additional attacks could destabilize the area. There is a risk that Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, will increase attacks on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping. Militias in Iraq could also become involved. That official and the person familiar with the Netanyahu-Trump call were not authorized to speak publicly.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the situation at a news conference on Saturday. He reiterated that the administration prefers a diplomatic solution and that talks are ongoing. Rubio said Trump has not made a decision but has incredible confidence in military action if required. The Israeli government and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about the weekend discussion.

Iranian leadership is preparing for both outcomes. New Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei met with military chiefs and urged an immediate response to any threat from the U.S. or Israel. He called for expanding the list of potential targets without geographic limits. Khamenei has not been seen publicly since February 28, when strikes killed his father, the previous supreme leader.

Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei told state television that the tone from the U.S. has completely changed. He described a letter received from U.S. Vice President JD Vance as a very good sign, though he did not detail its contents. Iran is seeking guarantees that the U.S. will implement its side of any agreement, noting that the U.S. and Israel have previously attacked Iran during negotiations.

The diplomatic effort involves broader regional engagement. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Oman's sultan that the Gulf region should not become an arena for great-power rivalry. China plans to send a special envoy to Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia in early to mid-November. At the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, UAE adviser Anwar Gargash warned that if U.S. and Iranian positions are not bridged, the region must worry about the worst.