Axios: Trump-Netanyahu coordination enables US strike on Iran's nuclear facility

In a display of U.S.-Israeli military coordination, the Israeli Air Force targeted multiple Iranian air defence systems in the 48 hours leading up to the American strike on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, senior U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios.

The coordinated effort paved the way for U.S. B-2 bombers to carry out a high-risk mission against one of Tehran's most fortified nuclear sites.

The Israeli strikes, concentrated in southern Iran, were executed at the direct request of the Trump administration and represent a significant escalation in bilateral cooperation over Iran's nuclear programme.

“We worked as a team”

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged Israel's role during a national address on Saturday.

“I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump said. “We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.”

Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Trump personally reached out to Netanyahu last week to request Israeli air support ahead of the planned U.S. military strike. “How can we help?” Netanyahu reportedly asked, according to Israeli officials.

Trump responded with a request for the Israeli Air Force to degrade Iranian air defenses in southern Iran — a move designed to clear a safe corridor for American stealth bombers en route to Fordow. Israel acted quickly, conducting strikes on the systems listed by U.S. officials.

Behind the scenes

On Thursday, top Israeli officials — including Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz — held a joint call with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth to finalise coordination.

“They made it clear to us in that call that they were moving forward with the operation,” said an Israeli official. “In the 48 hours before the U.S. operation, the IDF conducted several strikes in the area to degrade Iranian defenses.”

These operations targeted radar and surface-to-air missile batteries, thereby reducing the risk for the U.S. bombers involved in the mission. The Fordow facility — buried deep under mountains — was reportedly targeted with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.

Strategic outcome and uncertain aftermath

In the aftermath of the strike, Trump called Netanyahu to brief him, reiterating that his administration's goal was not continued escalation but a diplomatic breakthrough.

“The president doesn't want to continue strikes on Iran,” a U.S. official told Axios. “He's ready to do it if the Iranians retaliate against U.S. forces, but he told Netanyahu that he wants peace.”

An Israeli official corroborated the statement, adding: “We still don't know how the Iranians are going to respond — and that could change everything. But the Americans made it clear to us they want to close this round. They don't mind if we continue our strikes, but when it comes to them, they're done.”

Despite efforts to avoid dragging Washington into a broader conflict, Israeli officials acknowledged the pivotal role Iran's leadership played in escalating tensions.

“We didn’t press the U.S. to join the war,” one official said. “We were careful not to create the impression that we are dragging the U.S. into a war. But luckily for us, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart — [Iran’s Supreme Leader] Khamenei acted like an idiot and refused any proposal from the U.S.”

As the dust settles over Fordow and strategic calculations evolve, regional observers are watching closely to see how Tehran chooses to respond — and whether the current calm will hold.