Netanyahu pushes Trump for post-midterm strikes on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging President Donald Trump to launch new strikes on Iran after Tuesday's midterm elections.

Two regional officials and one other person familiar with the matter said Netanyahu wants a quick but extensive air campaign. The Israeli leader lost his parliamentary majority in last week's elections. A return to full-scale war could help him form an emergency government.

Trump has not made a decision on military action. He spoke with Netanyahu over the weekend. A person briefed on the call said Trump would not commit to strikes. Trump told reporters on Sunday that the conversation was very good. He said they discussed Iran but gave no details.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration prefers a diplomatic solution. He stated that Trump has incredible confidence in military action if needed. Rubio told reporters on Saturday that talks were ongoing. He did not say what would happen next.

Qatari mediators held two rounds of talks with Iranian officials last week. The officials said the mediators are working on a framework for Iran to stop attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. In return, the U.S. would lift its blockade on Iranian ports. More talks are planned for this week.

Other U.S. allies in the Middle East warn against more strikes. A third regional official said new attacks could destabilize the region. Houthi rebels in Yemen might increase attacks on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping. Iran-backed militias in Iraq could also get involved.

Iran says it is prepared for war while pursuing diplomacy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei met with military chiefs. He said the response to any threat should be immediate and without geographic limits. He urged an expansion of the list of potential targets. Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei told state television that the tone from the U.S. has completely changed. He called it a very good sign. He said he had not responded to a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

At the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said U.S. and Iranian stances are far apart. He warned that if positions are not bridged, the region must worry about the worst. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the next escalation will be more dangerous and destructive. China will send a special envoy to Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia in early to mid-November. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Oman’s sultan that the Gulf region should not become an arena for great-power rivalry.