Trump administration wants Israel to strike Iran first – report

“There’s thinking in and around the administration that the politics are a lot better if the Israelis go first and alone and the Iranians retaliate against us, and give us more reason to take action.”

By World Israel News Staff

Senior officials in the Trump administration have privately advised President Donald Trump to consider encouraging Israel to take the lead in attacking Iran in the event that talks between Washington and Tehran fail to make a breakthrough, Politico reported Wednesday.

The report cited multiple senior advisers to the president who spoke on condition of anonymity, telling the outlet that during closed-door meetings with Trump, they argued that it would be beneficial if Israel, not the US initiated a new conflict with Iran.

Once Israel attacks Iran, they claimed, the administration could more easily justify joining the war.

One source said that the considerations were primarily political rather than military in nature, citing polling data that showed Americans are ambivalent toward a wide-scale war with Iran.

While a majority of Americans back regime change in Tehran, most are concerned that a military campaign to achieve it would lead to significant American casualties.

Once Israel launches its air campaign, the officials said, Iran would likely target American assets in the region, a move that would build support at home for American involvement in the war.

“There’s thinking in and around the administration that the politics are a lot better if the Israelis go first and alone and the Iranians retaliate against us and give us more reason to take action,” one official told Politico.

Many administration officials are convinced that American strikes are only a matter of time but said that the scope of such a campaign has yet to be determined, while there is also no clear indication regarding the possible timing for an attack.