Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pressing US President Donald Trump to resume military action against Iran, raising fresh concerns about a possible escalation of the conflict as Israel undergoes a political transition. However, Gadi Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming Israel's next government, has warned against taking major security decisions without an immediate threat.
The developments come as Mossad Director Roman Gofman is in Washington for discussions with senior American officials about Iran. According to reports, Gofman met CIA Director John Ratcliffe and was expected to hold further discussions with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami. The meetings are taking place amid growing attention to Israel's security priorities and Washington's approach to the conflict. The CIA, Mossad and White House have not publicly confirmed the reported meetings.
The reported visit follows Netanyahu's efforts to persuade Trump to consider renewed military action against Iran. However, there has been no official confirmation that Israel has decided to launch another attack or that the United States has agreed to participate in a new military operation.
Trump has sent mixed signals about the future of the conflict. In recent statements, he described the war as militarily effectively over and suggested that Washington was not in a hurry to reach another agreement with Tehran. His administration has continued to maintain economic pressure and a naval blockade against Iran while keeping military options open.
The latest developments have also created uncertainty about diplomatic efforts involving Qatar. The Gulf country has been involved in attempts to negotiate an interim arrangement concerning the Strait of Hormuz. However, disagreements between Washington and Tehran over the blockade, regional security and sanctions relief continue to complicate the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu and Eisenkot held a security and diplomatic briefing on November 12 that lasted approximately two hours. A joint statement issued after the meeting said Eisenkot had received an update on Israel's security and diplomatic challenges. It also indicated that the two leaders would continue to communicate when necessary.
However, Israeli media reports suggested that the meeting also involved discussions about the possibility of renewed military action against Iran. According to reports citing people familiar with the discussions, Netanyahu wanted to explain why he believed further action might be necessary. Eisenkot has warned against taking major security decisions for political purposes during the government transition. He has argued that Israel's national security should not be used as political capital and that military action should be considered only when there is a direct and immediate threat that cannot wait until a new government takes office.
Netanyahu has criticised Eisenkot's public intervention, describing it as irresponsible and accusing him of politicising national security issues. The disagreement highlights growing tensions between the two leaders as Eisenkot attempts to form a new government while Netanyahu remains in office.
Eisenkot has not ruled out military action against Iran under all circumstances. His main concern is that decisions involving national security should be based on genuine threats and subject to proper oversight, particularly during the political transition.
The political situation in Israel has become particularly sensitive following the parliamentary election held on October 27. Netanyahu's political bloc lost its parliamentary majority, while Eisenkot emerged as the main challenger seeking to form the next government.
On November 8, Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, with forming a government. Eisenkot received recommendations from 67 members of the 120 seat Knesset, compared with 46 recommendations for Netanyahu. Seven lawmakers did not recommend either candidate.
The recommendations gave Eisenkot the opportunity to form the next government but did not guarantee him a parliamentary majority for a functioning coalition. He has 28 days to complete the process, with the possibility of an additional extension of up to 14 days. However, assembling a stable coalition remains difficult because of political divisions among the parties.
Netanyahu continues to serve as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed and takes office. He therefore retains executive responsibility for national security and military decisions during the transition. This situation has raised questions about the extent of oversight over major security operations while Eisenkot works to establish a new administration.
Differences have also reportedly emerged within Israel's military leadership over the timing of possible action against Iran. Israeli media reports said military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir had reservations about launching another operation immediately. His reported position concerns the timing and circumstances of a possible attack rather than opposition to military action altogether. He is said to favour coordination with Washington and believes there is no immediate Iranian threat requiring another strike at present. The precise details of the reported military discussions have not been officially established.
The reported disagreement comes after months of conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran. US and Israeli forces began military strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026, triggering a wider regional confrontation. Iran retaliated with attacks against targets across the Middle East and efforts to restrict shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Although ceasefire and diplomatic arrangements were reached during the following months, the situation remained unstable and fighting later resumed. Washington subsequently combined economic pressure and military measures with efforts to find a diplomatic solution.
Any renewed Israeli military campaign against Iran could have serious consequences for regional stability, international shipping and global energy supplies. It could also place additional pressure on the United States to decide whether to support Israel militarily or continue pursuing negotiations.
For now, the reported discussions in Washington and the political disagreement within Israel highlight the uncertainty surrounding the next phase of the Iran conflict. While Netanyahu appears to favour renewed military pressure, Eisenkot is calling for restraint during the government transition, and Trump continues to weigh military options against economic and diplomatic pressure on Tehran.