Divisions have emerged within the Trump administration over whether to resume major military operations against Iran, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Central Command (CENTCOM) leadership favoring fresh strikes while most presidential advisers advocate continued economic pressure, Axios reported.
The disagreement comes after President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a possible joint operation against Iranian military and nuclear facilities last week, according to US and Israeli officials and another informed source.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu warned that Iran’s proxies were seeking to launch missiles and carry out attacks.
Speaking to Israeli Army Radio, he said he opposed a preemptive strike on Tehran ahead of the elections, arguing that the timing was inappropriate. He nevertheless vowed to eliminate Hamas and Hezbollah and bring down Iran within two years.
Military Option Remains Open
The discussions suggest military escalation remains possible despite Trump’s insistence that he will not attack Iran before the US midterm elections, scheduled a week after Israel’s October 27 vote.
A US official said Netanyahu appeared eager to resume hostilities, but Trump had offered no firm commitment.
“Go ahead and prepare,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, a remark the official said could signal imminent action, a later operation or no attack at all.
A White House official denied that the leaders had discussed resuming the war, reiterating Trump’s position on the midterms.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed regular contacts with Washington but declined to discuss their substance.
According to the sources, Trump initially appeared inclined toward renewed strikes before becoming more hesitant.
Hegseth and CENTCOM leaders remain the strongest advocates of military action, while most advisers argue that sanctions and other economic measures are increasingly effective.
The debate pits military action aimed at disrupting Iran’s capabilities against sustained pressure intended to extract concessions without another round of fighting.
US and Israeli forces remain on alert, although preparations do not indicate that a final decision has been made.
Nuclear Concerns
Israel says intelligence indicates Iran is rebuilding parts of its nuclear program, concerns Netanyahu raised with Trump.
Israeli officials are particularly worried that Tehran could use the Pickaxe Mountain facility for uranium enrichment.
Senior Trump administration officials met for hours at Camp David on October 2 to discuss possible renewed strikes, including operations against Iranian military installations.
Whether the intelligence concerns will prompt military action or strengthen Washington’s negotiating position remains unclear.
The electoral calendar further complicates the calculations. A renewed offensive could provoke hundreds of Iranian ballistic missile launches toward Israel, potentially widening the conflict and disrupting its elections.
Diplomacy Continues
Meanwhile, Qatari mediators are awaiting Tehran’s response to Washington’s latest counterproposal to end the war, which demands nuclear concessions.
A US official said negotiations had not collapsed but were making little progress.
The official said Tehran had expected Trump to retreat under wartime pressure and with the midterms approaching, but the president had demonstrated that those calculations were mistaken.
On Tuesday, Trump again called Iran a “failed state” and said Washington would make a decision concerning Tehran “very soon.”
