Israel Seeks Trump’s Green Light to Strike Iran
Experts believe that Israel has no strategic interest in forcing its way into the current military campaign, as it can reap the benefits of American pressure on Iran without bearing the considerable costs of direct involvement in the fighting.
Israel is seeking authorization from US President Donald Trump to launch military strikes against Iran, according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN on Friday. The move comes amid the current military escalation and Washington’s decision to terminate its memorandum of understanding with Tehran following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iranian officials have threatened to target Israel should the US expand its military operations.
KAN reported: “Israel wants to participate in the strikes, but what is currently unfolding is a confrontation between the United States and Iran without Israeli involvement.” The broadcaster added that “the Israeli leadership believes that the exchange of fire between Iran and the United States will continue over the coming days.”
These developments come despite reports indicating that regional mediators are making efforts to contain the tensions and restore the memorandum of understanding.
For its part, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth wrote on Thursday evening: “For months, Israel appeared to be urging the United States to adopt a tougher stance toward Iran.”
The newspaper added: “Israeli officials believe that direct US military intervention is the only action capable of inflicting substantial damage on Tehran’s strategic infrastructure. However, with the United States now leading the campaign against Iran, Israel finds itself on the sidelines.”
Amid rising tensions in the Gulf, Yedioth Ahronoth stated that “the chances of Tel Aviv joining this campaign are extremely slim, not because of any lack of military capability, but because Israeli involvement would complicate matters for virtually all parties concerned.”
The newspaper further argued that “Israel has no interest in imposing itself on this campaign, as it can benefit from American pressure without paying the high price of joining the fighting.”
Regarding the US position, the newspaper wrote: “Washington is exercising similar caution, making every effort to prevent a wider regional escalation, because involving Israel could fundamentally alter the nature of the conflict, complicate efforts to rally international support, and provide Iran with an opportunity to portray the war as a confrontation between Israel and the Muslim world—a narrative that Tehran has sought to promote for years.”
Nevertheless, the newspaper added that “the possibility of Israel joining the conflict at a later stage cannot be ruled out. Such a scenario could emerge if Iran significantly expands its attacks or attempts to strike Israel directly. For now, however, all the principal actors—the United States, Israel, the Gulf states, and even Iran—appear to prefer keeping Israel outside this military campaign.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, vowed retaliation that would not exclude Israel following attacks on Iranian infrastructure, according to official Iranian media.
On Thursday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had carried out new strikes against approximately 90 Iranian military targets, including air defense systems, missile and drone storage facilities, naval assets, and military logistical infrastructure along Iran’s coastline.
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had targeted US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, warning that it would expand its attacks if US strikes continued. The Gulf region has witnessed escalating tensions since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran on 28 February.
Since Washington and Tehran signed their memorandum of understanding on 18 June, negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, have continued to face significant obstacles.
