Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a full-scale return to military action against Iran would occur if the U.S. president decides it is necessary [1, 2].
This statement signals a high level of military readiness and serves as a deterrent to Iran by tying the trigger for a major escalation to the decision-making of the U.S. executive [1, 2].
Speaking with CNBC, Netanyahu said that both Israel and U.S. forces stand ready for such a confrontation [1]. He characterized the current geopolitical environment as a strategic maneuver, saying, "I think there’s a tactical game that is being played" [1].
Netanyahu said that the authority to resume large-scale operations rests with U.S. President Donald Trump [3]. He said that the Iranian government is aware of this potential for escalation, noting that "Iran surely knows what [Trump] has said, that if necessary, there will be a full‑scale return to military action" [1].
According to reports, the prime minister used these comments to downplay any perceived rift with the U.S. president [3]. By deferring the final decision to Trump, Netanyahu aligns Israeli military objectives with U.S. strategic leadership, ensuring a coordinated front against Tehran.
While the prime minister did not specify a timeline or a particular catalyst for such action, he said that the readiness of combined forces remains a primary deterrent [1, 4].
“"Any decision to resume full‑scale military action against Iran rests with U.S. President Donald Trump."”
By explicitly linking the possibility of full-scale war with Iran to the will of the U.S. president, Netanyahu is reinforcing the strategic interdependence of the two nations. This approach serves two purposes: it pressures Iran by highlighting a volatile and unpredictable decision-making chain in Washington, and it publicly affirms Netanyahu's alignment with the Trump administration to avoid domestic or international perceptions of a diplomatic rift.
