Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump have reportedly discussed various avenues through which the US could assist Israel in its efforts to confront Iran’s nuclear program, according to the Washington Post. The conversation, detailed by senior columnist David Ignatius, highlights the escalating tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the potential for military action.

Citing Israeli and US officials, Ignatius asserts that unless diplomatic pressure forces Iran to abandon its nuclear facilities, Israel is prepared to take matters into its own hands, with or without US support. This revelation underscores Israel's resolve and its concerns over Iran’s advancing nuclear capabilities. Several options are reportedly under consideration for US support, ranging from diplomatic coercion, including the possibility of issuing an ultimatum, to active military assistance.

The timing of the conversation remains unclear, though it is noted that Netanyahu and Trump met in Washington last week, with Iran expected to be a central issue in their discussions. Netanyahu had previously stated that Iran would be one of the key topics during his meeting with the US president.

Despite Trump's campaign promise to avoid further military conflicts in the Middle East, the US is under increasing pressure from Israel. The Israeli government sees Iran as particularly vulnerable at this juncture, following setbacks in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as the severe damage to Iran’s air defense and missile production sites during an Israeli attack in October.

"Israel wants to seize the moment," officials told The Post. "If Iran won’t agree to a Libya-style abandonment of its nuclear facilities, Israel is prepared to bomb those facilities — with or without U.S. support, the officials said. The Biden administration had weighed in its final days whether to support this Israeli ultimatum but decided against it, officials said. Now it’s at the top of Trump’s inbox.”

Trump, however, expressed a preference for a diplomatic resolution, emphasizing that a deal would be his preferred course of action over military intervention.

"There’s two ways of stopping them: with bombs or with a written piece of paper. And I’d much rather do a deal," Trump said, highlighting his desire to avoid military conflict. He further noted that Iran's defenses had been significantly weakened following Israel’s October airstrikes, making the regime more susceptible to a negotiated agreement.

"I think Iran is very nervous. I think they are scared. I think Iran would love to make a deal, and I would love to make a deal with them without bombing them,” Trump stated in a recent interview.

In their discussions, Netanyahu and Trump explored various forms of US support, ranging from direct military assistance, such as intelligence sharing or refueling for Israeli strikes, to more political backing for a coercive diplomatic ultimatum. The US has already provided Israel with advanced bunker-busting munitions capable of severely damaging Iran’s uranium-enrichment facilities, including those hidden deep underground at Fordow, near Qom.

A US military intelligence assessment in January concluded that, absent a diplomatic agreement, Israel is likely to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities within the first half of 2025. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes reinforced Trump’s stance, stating, "While he prefers negotiating a resolution … peacefully, he will not wait indefinitely if Iran isn’t willing to deal, and soon."