Mar 12, 2026 17:12 pm IST

Opinion | Is Trump Starting To Regret Backing Netanyahu's Iran Gameplan?

Netanyahu may not mind the Iran war, as a prolonged conflict suits him politically. But for the US, it is fast shaping up to be a disaster.

Naresh Kaushik Naresh Kaushik Columnist

Naresh Kaushik Columnist

January's anti-government protests in Iran were probably seen by Israel's wily leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, as a golden opportunity to finally convince Donald Trump to mount a joint military operation against the country. Basking in the glory of his stunning success in Venezuela, Trump must have been swayed by Netanyahu's argument that the clerical regime was at its weakest since the 1979 Islamic revolution and could easily collapse, giving him another quick victory.

Trump was likely convinced by Netanyahu that during the 12-day war last summer, Israel had destroyed Iran's air defences, killed its top military commanders, and finished off its air force as well as its large stock of ballistic missiles and drones. He also believed that his decision to drop massive 13,000 kg GBU-57 MOP bombs using giant B2 bombers had destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. If Iran had concealed any ballistic missiles within these facilities, those would have been inaccessible after the attack.

Were Israel And The US In Sync?

While Israel was convinced of the need to launch a joint attack to completely destroy Iran's military capability, American military commanders were not sure whether there was any immediate need to do so; they were also not prepared. Only a quarter of the US public supported attacking Iran. But Trump only needed to convince himself. He was emboldened by his swift capture of Nicolás Maduro, replacing him with a compliant Delcy Rodríguez. He wanted to repeat that change in Iran.

Persuading American presidents to attack Iran and change its regime has been a major political and strategic goal of Netanyahu for over three decades. But Israel never had an occupant in White House who would actually share that objective and be so open towards it. It was Trump who, in his first term, recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and shifted the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.

(File photo: Since the war started, Israel has struck a number of oil facilities in Tehran)

Under Netanyahu's influence, Trump also withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration, which Tehran had adhered to. Iran began enriching uranium to levels close to weapons-grade only after Trump pulled the US out of the deal. It was also Trump who supported Netanyahu's brutal military campaign in Gaza following Hamas's invasion of Israel in 2023. He even sanctioned the judges of the World Court who issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.

Most Israelis have seen Iran as their most important security challenge........

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