Netanyahu Pushes Trump for New Iran Strikes as US President Favors Diplomacy

JERUSALEM / WASHINGTON, November 10, 2026 – A growing disagreement between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump over the next phase of the war with Iran is exposing differences in their strategic priorities, with Netanyahu advocating renewed military action while Trump is increasingly focused on securing a diplomatic agreement with Tehran.

According to reports by the Associated Press and Axios, Netanyahu has been pressing Trump to authorize another wave of extensive strikes against Iranian targets, preferably immediately following the November 3 US midterm elections.

During a telephone conversation on October 31, Netanyahu reportedly urged the American president to resume military operations. Sources familiar with the discussion described the conversation as direct and difficult.

Trump, however, declined to commit to a new military campaign, preferring to allow ongoing negotiations to continue before considering another escalation.

The White House and Netanyahu's office did not publicly confirm the reported details of the conversation.

Netanyahu Wants a Renewed Military Campaign

According to the Associated Press, Netanyahu has been working with senior officials in the Trump administration in an effort to persuade Washington to approve a rapid but extensive air campaign against Iranian targets.

Israeli concerns reportedly center on Iran's remaining nuclear infrastructure, military capabilities and its ability to rebuild strategic assets damaged during previous operations.

Jerusalem is concerned that allowing Tehran additional time could enable the Iranian regime to restore military capabilities and strengthen its negotiating position.

The Israeli government has also expressed concern over the possibility that a diplomatic agreement could leave significant elements of Iran's nuclear and missile programs intact.

Netanyahu's push comes amid a difficult political period in Israel following the recent elections, which left his political bloc without a parliamentary majority.

Some regional officials cited by the Associated Press suggested that renewed hostilities could also create conditions for an emergency government in Israel. This remains an assessment attributed to those sources rather than an established explanation for Netanyahu's position.

Trump: Diplomacy Deserves Another Chance

Despite Netanyahu's pressure, Trump has signaled that he is not prepared to rush into another major military operation.

The American president has repeatedly said that negotiations with Iran are progressing and that Washington is not in a hurry to resume offensive operations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that the administration continues to prefer a diplomatic solution.

"He'd prefer to solve it diplomatically," Rubio said when discussing Trump's position, adding that the president retains confidence in the military option if negotiations fail.

On November 9, Trump went further, describing Iran's military capabilities as effectively defeated and saying that the United States was maintaining the existing situation rather than immediately escalating the conflict.

Following a meeting with Qatar's prime minister at the White House, Trump reiterated his interest in reaching an agreement with Tehran.

He nevertheless warned that American forces remained ready to act if circumstances changed.

Qatar Emerges as a Key Diplomatic Intermediary

Qatar has intensified its mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, attempting to prevent another round of major military confrontation.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Trump at the White House on November 9 to discuss ways of advancing negotiations.

The diplomatic initiative reportedly includes a framework involving reciprocal concessions.

Among the proposals under discussion are:

• A possible lifting of the American naval blockade on Iranian ports.

• The release of some frozen Iranian financial assets.

• Iranian cooperation with international nuclear inspectors.

• The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

• Renewed negotiations over Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile.

The proposal seeks to establish an initial reduction in tensions that could create the conditions for a broader agreement.

However, significant disagreements remain over the sequence of concessions and the guarantees each side would require.

JD Vance Plays an Increasingly Important Role

Vice President JD Vance has also become increasingly involved in the diplomatic effort.

According to reports, Vance sent a letter to Iran's senior security official Mohsen Rezaei in late October expressing interest in restarting negotiations and discussing a possible settlement.

Vance has reportedly maintained contact with Qatar's leadership as part of Washington's efforts to establish a diplomatic channel with Tehran.

Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin said on November 9 that Vance and Rezaei could meet in Qatar the following week.

Such a meeting, if confirmed and held, would represent an important development in the diplomatic process.

Iranian officials, however, have sent mixed signals. While some have acknowledged diplomatic contacts, Rezaei has publicly rejected what he described as misleading reports about negotiations and insisted that Washington must accept Tehran's conditions.

Washington's Regional Allies Warn Against Escalation

The American position is also influenced by concerns among Washington's Arab allies in the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other regional countries fear that another major US-Israeli offensive could trigger Iranian retaliation against military installations, energy infrastructure and commercial shipping.

The Strait of Hormuz remains particularly sensitive because of its importance to international oil and gas supplies.

Regional governments have warned that another escalation could have consequences extending far beyond Iran and Israel, potentially disrupting energy markets and threatening the security of neighboring countries.

China has also called for renewed dialogue and announced diplomatic efforts involving Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Trump Keeps the Military Option Open

Despite his preference for negotiations, Trump has not ruled out further military action.

His administration continues to maintain military readiness, and the president has made clear that diplomacy cannot proceed indefinitely without meaningful Iranian concessions.

Secretary of State Rubio has also cautioned that negotiations have made limited progress and that some Iranian demands remain unacceptable to Washington.

The administration therefore appears to be pursuing a dual strategy: maintaining military pressure while allowing diplomatic channels additional time to produce an agreement.

A Strategic Divide Between Washington and Jerusalem

The emerging disagreement raises important questions about the future of US-Israel coordination.

For Netanyahu, continued military pressure is intended to prevent Iran from rebuilding its strategic capabilities and to secure a more comprehensive outcome.

For Trump, another major military campaign carries high diplomatic, economic, and domestic political costs, particularly following the Republican Party's losses in the midterm elections.

The president must also consider the consequences of renewed Iranian attacks on American forces and regional allies, as well as the potential impact on global energy markets.

The two leaders remain aligned in their stated opposition to an Iranian nuclear weapon, but they appear to differ over how that objective should be achieved.