Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office recently refuted claims made by the Washington Post regarding ousted national security adviser Mike Waltz’s purported "intensive contact" with him, which allegedly centered on advocating for military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities. This assertion reportedly angered President Trump, who was under the impression that the U.S. administration should explore diplomatic avenues to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In a formal statement, Netanyahu’s office clarified that while there had been a warm meeting between Waltz, Netanyahu, and Steve Witkoff in February, it did not involve significant discussions about Iran, undermining claims of Waltz’s aggressive posture towards military intervention.
Furthermore, the denial from Netanyahu’s office diverged from remarks by some White House officials and unidentified sources who suggested that Waltz’s hawkish stance on Iran contributed to his dismissal. A senior White House official hinted that Waltz was pursuing a direction of U.S. policy that was at odds with Trump’s approach, which favored diplomacy over military action. This conflict reportedly reached Trump, leading to dissatisfaction with Waltz’s militaristic views on handling Iran’s nuclear program.
Amid this tension, Waltz expressed that President Trump consistently maintained that “all options” were on the table regarding Iran’s nuclear threat. He emphasized Trump’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This sentiment was echoed by Trump in another interview, where he stated that while he would not allow the U.S. to become embroiled in a war with Iran, he was prepared to support proactive measures if necessary. Trump’s comments suggested a delicate balance between supporting Israel’s security concerns while remaining cautious about direct military engagement.
Trump further clarified his position on military strikes, stating he had not explicitly blocked Netanyahu from taking action against Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities but preferred seeking a diplomatic resolution. He expressed that while he would not impede Israel’s sovereign decisions, he hoped that negotiations could yield a peaceful outcome rather than a military confrontation. This nuanced stance reflects Trump’s overarching approach to foreign policy, which often emphasized negotiation as a first option, reserving military action as a last resort.
The backdrop of these discussions included escalating concerns from international bodies like the UN, which warned about Iran’s uranium enrichment nearing weapons-grade levels. In past statements, Netanyahu has claimed that his leadership has effectively hindered Iran’s nuclear capabilities and that military readiness remains a crucial part of the discourse surrounding Iran’s nuclear developments. The delicate interplay of military threat and diplomatic negotiations remains a focal point of U.S.-Israeli relations regarding Iran.
In the wake of Waltz’s dismissal, Marco Rubio has stepped in as acting national security adviser, making history as the first official to hold both the national security adviser and cabinet positions since Henry Kissinger. Meanwhile, Trump appointed Waltz as his nominee for the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, highlighting his continued trust in Waltz’s abilities to serve national interests. As the diplomatic landscape evolves, the actions taken by both the U.S. and Israel will significantly impact international relations and approaches to the Iranian nuclear issue.
