Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has pressed U.S. President Donald Trump not to abandon efforts aimed at regime change in Iran, ahead of a scheduled White House meeting as hostilities between the United States and Iran showed signs of a temporary pause. The conflict, which began in late February with coordinated military actions by the U.S. and Israel, entered a tentative lull after nearly two weeks marked by a series of attacks and counterattacks.
Netanyahu emphasized that the confrontation with Tehran could only be resolved either through the collapse of the current regime or a significant shift in its policies. Speaking to Fox News, he reiterated his position that the Iranian leadership must either be sufficiently weakened or replaced to halt its nuclear ambitions and regional aggression. This stance contrasts with President Trump’s repeated statements that regime change is not a formal war objective.
The Israeli prime minister’s visit to Washington coincides with the funeral of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Israel. The trip also provides the first opportunity for Netanyahu to meet Trump since the onset of the military campaign. Their relationship has been strained in recent months, including a reported heated phone exchange during which Trump labeled Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” over Israeli operations targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
U.S. military actions against Iranian targets ceased on Friday following 13 consecutive nights of strikes, according to reports citing senior military officials. The reported suspension was influenced by warnings from General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the risk of depleting critical missile defense inventory protecting U.S. bases and allies in the region. However, the White House and U.S. representatives have denied that weapon stockpiles are dangerously low, stating that all options remain available and that the pause is intended to open space for diplomatic talks.
Iran confirmed it had halted retaliatory attacks after the U.S. ceased its military operations. Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia described Tehran’s strategy as reactive, linking the suspension of regional strikes to the U.S. decision to stop its offensive actions.
The conflict has exposed divergent objectives between Washington and Jerusalem. Analysts, including former U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shapiro, point to a widening divide: while Netanyahu seeks to maximize damage to Iran’s regime potentially influenced by domestic electoral considerations ahead of Israel’s general election in October, Trump appears focused on finding an exit strategy as his administration faces the approaching U.S. midterm elections in November.
Adding complexity to the geopolitical situation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, visiting Washington for Senator Graham's funeral, asserted that Russia has been assisting Iran through satellite surveillance aiding its attacks on Gulf states and U.S. military sites. Zelensky said Ukraine had gathered evidence of Russian intelligence support for Tehran’s military operations. In contrast, President Trump expressed skepticism toward claims that Russia and China are enabling Iran’s actions, stating his trust in Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping to dissuade such cooperation.
As the diplomatic and military dynamics evolve, U.S.-Israeli coordination remains critical but increasingly marked by differing priorities concerning the path forward in the region.