2 November 2026 (Navroze Bureau) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged US President Donald Trump to launch fresh military strikes against Iran immediately after the November 3 US midterm elections, according to a report by Axios. The reported push comes as Washington continues diplomatic efforts to restart negotiations with Tehran, highlighting differences between the Israeli government’s position and Trump’s current approach.
The two leaders held a telephone conversation on Saturday, October 31, to discuss the progress of US negotiations with Iran and the possibility of resuming military operations. While an Israeli source described the conversation as “tough” and a US source called it “direct”, Trump later characterised the discussion as “a very good talk”.
The reported disagreement centres on how much time should be given to diplomatic negotiations before considering another round of military action against Iran.
Netanyahu Wants Military Action After Midterms
According to Axios, Netanyahu pressed Trump to resume military strikes against Iran immediately after the US midterm elections. The Israeli prime minister is reportedly concerned that Washington’s continued diplomatic engagement could lead to an agreement that reduces pressure on Tehran.
Israel has consistently expressed concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme and its regional activities. Netanyahu’s reported position reflects the Israeli government’s preference for maintaining military pressure rather than relying exclusively on negotiations.
The report, citing Israeli and American sources familiar with the conversation, said Netanyahu wanted the United States to move towards military action once the November 3 elections were over.
However, neither the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office nor the White House publicly confirmed the specific details of the reported discussion.
Trump Prefers Giving Diplomacy More Time
Trump, meanwhile, has indicated that he wants diplomatic efforts with Iran to continue before making a decision about further military action.
According to the Axios report, the US president is pursuing parallel diplomatic and military approaches. His administration is exploring the possibility of restarting direct negotiations with Tehran while keeping preparations for potential military operations under consideration.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump said negotiations with Iran were progressing well and indicated that he was not in a hurry to resume strikes.
He also acknowledged that the United States still had concerns about Iranian nuclear facilities, including the suspected underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also indicated that Trump has not made a final decision about launching additional strikes against Iran. Rubio said the administration was considering its options and had no announcement to make regarding a possible military operation.
Trump Describes Netanyahu Call as ‘Very Good’
On Sunday, November 1, Trump confirmed that he had spoken with Netanyahu by telephone and described the conversation as “a very good talk”.
He said the two leaders discussed Iran but did not provide further details about the conversation or confirm whether they had reached any understanding regarding future military action.
The description differed from the characterisations attributed to the sources cited in the Axios report. While the Israeli source reportedly called the discussion “tough”, the American source described it as “direct”.
The contrast has drawn attention because the conversation reportedly involved an important disagreement over the timing of a possible return to military operations against Iran.
Qatar Mediates Between Washington and Tehran
Diplomatic efforts to restart negotiations between the United States and Iran are continuing with Qatar playing a key mediating role.
According to reports, Qatari mediators met Iranian officials in Doha for three consecutive days in an effort to develop an understanding that could lead to the resumption of direct talks between Washington and Tehran.
US Vice President JD Vance has also reportedly sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, regarding the possibility of restarting negotiations.
The outreach is significant because it represents a high-level communication effort between the two countries after months of heightened tensions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions were continuing but that no final agreement had been reached. He indicated that progress would depend on Washington responding to Tehran’s outstanding questions.
Iran has maintained that any diplomatic arrangement must take its conditions into account.
Iran’s Nuclear Programme Remains a Major Concern
Iran’s nuclear programme remains one of the central issues in the dispute between Tehran, Washington and Israel.
The United States has repeatedly expressed concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the possibility of the country developing nuclear weapons. Tehran, however, has maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Trump has previously indicated that the United States could consider additional military action against suspected nuclear facilities if diplomatic efforts fail.
The suspected underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain has also featured in Trump’s recent remarks about potential military options.
For Israel, Iran’s nuclear activities are considered a major security concern. Netanyahu has repeatedly called for strong action to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
What Happens After the November 3 Elections?
The November 3 US midterm elections have become an important reference point in discussions about Washington’s next steps towards Iran.
According to the Axios report, Netanyahu wants military action to resume immediately after the elections, while Trump is currently allowing diplomatic efforts to continue.
However, no final decision on additional US strikes against Iran has been publicly announced.
The coming days could therefore prove important for US-Iran relations, particularly as Qatar continues its mediation efforts and Washington evaluates its diplomatic and military options.
For now, the reported differences between Netanyahu and Trump highlight the challenge of balancing Israel’s security concerns with the US administration’s efforts to pursue negotiations with Tehran.