Netanyahu tells ministers: “We may have to go through several more rounds with Iran”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke three times during the day of escalation with Iran, including another call held today, Monday, which was described as a “good call.” In closed-door talks presented to ministers, Netanyahu said, among other things, that “we may have to go through several more rounds with Iran.” Alongside the warning of renewed flare-ups with Tehran, the prime minister revealed to the ministers a significant political and security achievement with the American administration, and updated them that “there is approval from Trump to strike in Beirut, if we are attacked.”

The approval from the U.S. president that Netanyahu is referring to was given after a series of frantic calls and discussions held last night in the Israeli and American leadership before the green light was given for the strikes. During the call, Trump delivered a clear message about the nature of the expected response and told him: “Strike and close the matter.” Israeli officials briefed on the content of the call clarified that the president meant Israel should act, but “not strike in a way that would lead to war.”

Meanwhile, deep disagreements emerged in Israel within the small cabinet over the scope of the targets. In internal discussions held last night, ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir demanded a much broader operation, including, among other things, the possibility of striking Iranian energy facilities. Netanyahu, by contrast, explained to them the diplomatic consequences involved in such a move. Standing once again alongside Netanyahu and opposing an expansion of the operation was Shas chairman Aryeh Deri.

Earlier this evening, Netanyahu issued a statement, about a day after the fighting with Iran began, and said, “For now, the fire on the Iran front is contained, because after striking the terror regime in Tehran, it stopped attacking us. If it resumes doing so, we will respond with force.” According to him, Iran and Hezbollah are weaker than ever, and we are stronger than ever. “Our struggle is still not over,” he said. He added that “in the past 24 hours, Iran and Hezbollah tried to impose on us a new and intolerable equation, which we do not accept.”