Netanyahu presses Trump to strike Iran right after the midterms, as Tehran floats a two-day plan to reopen Hormuz

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing President Donald Trump to strike Iran immediately after Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to one Israeli and one US source¹. The two leaders discussed the state of US negotiations with Iran, and how quickly to return to combat, in a phone call on Saturday^1,2. The Israeli source called the call “tough,” while the US source described it as “direct”¹. The sources said Trump, for now, wants to let negotiations play out, a strategy that concerns Netanyahu¹. The White House and the Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment¹.

Trump said the US still has “to take care of” one or two targets in Iran^3,4. He also said the US is capable of hitting Iran “in ten minutes,” although war is seen as unlikely before the midterm elections⁵. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump has not decided whether to attack Iran again^8,9.

The talks in Doha

Iranian negotiators and Qatari mediators held a third day of talks aimed at ending the US-Iran war^9,10. Iranian officials have been discussing with the mediators a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz¹¹. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday evening that Tehran could agree to reopen the strait in just two days¹³, with the proposal contingent on US demands¹².

Mohsen Rezaei set a harder line, saying Iran will not reopen the strait until the US meets seven conditions and guarantees Iranian interests¹⁴. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the armed forces on Saturday to be prepared for any attack¹⁰, and warned of a “geographically unrestricted response” if the US attacks again¹³. He warned the US and Israel against a new offensive following threats that they could resume strikes^3,4.

Why it matters to investors

The gap between Washington and Jerusalem is about timing: Netanyahu wants strikes right after the vote, while Trump is giving negotiations room¹. Israel has completed preparations for renewed fighting with Iran, according to a report^6,7. Cooper presented military options to Trump at a meeting attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff⁶. The Pentagon had already reinforced air defenses, according to earlier reports⁵.

Tehran’s own statements on reopening the Strait of Hormuz conflict: a two-day offer from the foreign minister against seven conditions from Rezaei^13,14. Rubio’s statement that no decision has been made leaves the timing of any US action open⁸. The next markers are the outcome of the Doha talks and the US vote on Tuesday^1,11.