U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on Saturday to discuss military options against Iran, including potential strikes following Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections. Meanwhile, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson alleged on X that Trump may be within days of launching a nuclear strike on Iran under pressure from Netanyahu, citing an unnamed “informed observer.”
Trump and Netanyahu’s call focused on Iran strategy
According to reporting from Axios, Trump and Netanyahu discussed the timing and scope of potential military action against Iran, with Netanyahu pushing for immediate strikes after the midterms while Trump favored allowing negotiations to continue. An Israeli source and an American source confirmed the call took place. Trump has previously threatened further strikes on Iran, stating at a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday that he had held back to avoid casualties but warned, “at some point we’re going to have to give them the hammer.”
Carlson alleges nuclear strike pressure from Netanyahu
In a post on X, Carlson claimed Netanyahu is “cornered and desperate” following Israel’s election results and is pressuring Trump to authorize a nuclear strike on Pickaxe Mountain, an underground complex near Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility. Carlson cited an “informed observer” who alleged Netanyahu calls Trump “every day” to push for military action. He further asserted that the Trump administration has quietly revised U.S. nuclear doctrine since February to make battlefield nuclear weapons easier to deploy, though no official confirmation has been provided.
Potential targets and military options discussed
Trump has previously indicated that Pickaxe Mountain is among the targets under consideration, describing it as a site where Iran may store highly enriched uranium. Reports suggest U.S. military options range from limited strikes lasting hours to a broader campaign spanning weeks, with one scenario targeting Iran’s nuclear program. Advisers to Trump have privately questioned the performance of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, who had assured the president the war would conclude before the midterms.
Iran’s response and regional implications
Iran has warned of reprisals if attacked, raising concerns about potential escalation involving regional actors. Carlson’s claims of a looming nuclear strike and broader regional conflict, including involvement from Russia, India, Pakistan, and North Korea, have drawn skepticism from policy analysts, who note the absence of corroborating evidence from official U.S. or Israeli sources. The White House and Pentagon have not confirmed changes to U.S. nuclear doctrine, and no timeline for military action has been publicly established.
Background: U.S.-Israel strikes and ongoing tensions
The U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, halting hostilities but leaving unresolved tensions. Trump has stated that U.S. actions have degraded Iran’s military capabilities, though he has not ruled out further strikes. Iran continues to deny pursuing nuclear weapons, while Western intelligence agencies assess that its nuclear program remains a point of contention.