Media: Netanyahu seeks Trump’s support amid tensions with Iran But will he get it?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is counting on President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House to bolster Israel’s hardline approach against Iran.

This comes after the FBI uncovered two assassination plots allegedly orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeting Trump, adding new urgency to Netanyahu's calls for tougher action against Tehran, Caliber.Az reports, citing Politico.

While the schemes were reportedly amateurish, Netanyahu is leveraging the incidents to align with Trump, hoping the president-elect will endorse his vision of challenging Iran’s influence in the region. Netanyahu has openly celebrated Trump’s victory as a historic opportunity, signalling a potential shift away from the more restrained approach taken under President Joe Biden.

“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” Netanyahu declared in a congratulatory message on social media, hailing Trump’s election win as “history’s greatest comeback.”

Despite Trump’s campaign promises to scale back U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts, Netanyahu is determined to secure a “total victory” against Israel’s adversaries, particularly targeting Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas. His strategy includes continuing the offensive in Gaza, pressuring Hezbollah in Lebanon, and seeking to dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions — a plan that could face resistance from Trump’s stated preference for disengagement from the Middle East.

Netanyahu has been working to mend ties with Trump after a falling out in 2020, when the Israeli leader was quick to congratulate Biden while Trump contested the election results. To regain favor, Netanyahu has repeatedly reached out to Trump, praising him in U.S. political circles and emphasizing their shared concerns over Iran’s threat.

However, Trump’s support for Netanyahu’s aggressive agenda is not guaranteed. Sources close to the president-elect indicate that while Trump agrees on the dangers posed by Iran, he is wary of entangling the U.S. in new Middle Eastern conflicts. Trump’s stance was evident during his first term when he approved the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani but has since signaled a desire to prioritize American resources elsewhere, particularly toward countering China.

Complicating Netanyahu’s ambitions are figures like Vice President-elect JD Vance, who has voiced skepticism over further military involvement in the region. Vance, a veteran of the Iraq war, has argued against a direct U.S. confrontation with Iran, suggesting that regional powers should take the lead in counterbalancing Tehran.

Meanwhile, Israel faces opposition from its Gulf neighbors, who have been cautious about escalating tensions with Iran. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has warned against actions that could destabilize the region, linking any normalization of ties with Israel to a cease-fire in Gaza and progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While Netanyahu seeks a freer hand to address what he views as existential threats to Israel, he must navigate a complex diplomatic landscape, balancing Trump’s isolationist tendencies with the strategic interests of other regional stakeholders. His challenge will be to convince the incoming U.S. administration to support a tougher stance on Iran without dragging America into another prolonged conflict. 

As Israel eyes this rare moment of alignment with Trump, Netanyahu’s broader goal remains clear: reshaping the regional order to secure Israel’s security for decades to come, even as calls for de-escalation and diplomacy grow louder on the international stage.

By Khagan Isayev