Netanyahu Describes Pushing Trump to Join Iran Attack a Year Before Operation Epic Fury Strikes

Samuel Corum/Sipa USA via AP Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who said Wednesday he had directed the IDF to “overthrow” the Iranian regime — described in detail his effort to push President Donald Trump to attack the Islamic republic.

Netanyahu spoke about his discussions with Trump and said the American president took his time before joining the conflict, according to The Times of Israel, which cited Israel National News:

Speaking to Israel National News, Netanyahu says he told Trump that “we are going to do A, B, C, D.”

“I got to the fourth slide, I said we’d be very happy if you joined,” says Netanyahu. “There is a bunker in a place called Fordo, you can bring the B2 and bomb there. We’d be happy if you did, and if not, we’ll do it and it will be harder. Decide.”

But Trump didn’t immediately take him up on it, said the embattled leader, who is facing a tough reelection battle next week.

“He heard, he didn’t decide, and I came back and said, we are going,” Netanyahu, recalled before repeating his claims that before Israel struck Iran in June 2025, “Iran was about to destroy us with nuclear bombs.”

Trump has insisted the United States will not resume strikes on Iran before America’s Nov. 3 elections.

Speaking Wednesday to a graduation ceremony for Israeli Defense Forces officers, Netanyahu proclaimed Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei “decided to renew the nuclear program” and said he’s directed his country’s forces to stop it.

“I instructed that the only relevant solution here is bringing down the fanatic regime… I instructed the IDF and the Mossad, this is the job, this is the mission,” Netanyahu said.

He then claimed Trump had said the United States was “ready to finish the job” — and “would only do so with the help of Israel.”

The U.S. and Israel launched joint airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28 in a conflict that has now stretched nearly eight months.

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