Netanyahu Reportedly Discussed Resuming the War Against Iran With Trump This Month: ‘Get Ready’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed with President Donald Trump the possibility of resuming attacks against Iran before the country's elections later this month and the U.S. midterms in early November, according to a new report.

Israeli outlet Channel 12 detailed that Trump and Netanyahu discussed the possibility last week, with Netanyahu expressing interest in taking action before the October 27 elections.

"Bibi spoke to the president about it several times, and the president told him, 'Well, you know what, Bibi, go ahead and get ready.' But he didn't really give him any commitment. 'Go ahead and get ready' could be now, could be later, and could be never," a U.S. official told Channel 12.

The outlet went on to note that Netanyahu claimed to be concerned about steps being taken by Iran on the nuclear front. And while Trump initially appeared to favor resuming the attacks, he latter cooled on the possibility. Most of the president's advisors recommend maintaining the economic blockade of Iran.

Trump last week rejected resuming attacks against Iran before the midterms in early November. NBC News had also reported that Trump and his national security team discussed resuming the campaign against Tehran in the coming weeks. Axios detailed that the Pentagon instructed the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to conclude preparations to that end.

The outlet went on to cite sources familiar with the matter, who said that if the campaign resumes it will include large bombings of Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear targets.

Iranian officials, in turn, have suggested sending ground troops to countries in the region if a full-fledged war with the U.S. resumes, according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal detailed that the possibility is part of different options weighed by Tehran to expand the war in such a scenario.

The report did not specify which countries would be targeted, but officials have also warned that Saudi oil facilities could also be targeted. And Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's top national security official, publicly threatened the United Arab Emirates as well.

Other threats from Tehran involve targeting data centers and internet cables in the region. As for U.S. assets, Iranian officials told mediators they could target forces more aggressively, including trying to sink warships and killing their crews.

Iran has already escalated attacks against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as talks continue to be at a stalemate. The Nicaragua-flagged Petro Dolphin was struck by a drone on Sunday, Iran International reported. Two other vessels were struck during the weekend as well.

Iran had announced on Friday it would escalate hostilities, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps saying in a statement that it will now pursue vessels that don't transit the routes it has approved even outside the waterway and "throughout the entire region," and that "its punishment will be definitive."