US President Donald Trump's decision to refrain from a military strike on Iran may have been influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's warning. This was reported by the Axios portal, citing American and Israeli officials.
According to the publication, Trump and Netanyahu spoke by phone on January 14th, when expectations of a potential strike on Iran were growing in Washington. In the conversation, the Israeli leader made the possible consequences very clear: if the US launches a strike, there is a high probability of a counterattack from Iran, and Israel is not fully prepared for such a scenario.
According to Axios sources, Netanyahu highlighted another important point: US forces may not have been adequately deployed in the region to help Israel intercept Iranian missiles and drones. He also stated that the US plan at that time was "not sufficiently effective" and would not yield the expected results.
This is not limited to Tel Aviv's position. Axios reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also attempted to dissuade Trump from striking. The logic is simple: a blow can further worsen stability in the region and trigger a large chain of tension.
As a result, the "cocktail" that shaped the decision is said to have been composed of several factors: limited military resources in the region, warnings from Israel and Saudi Arabia, concerns from Trump's advisors, and confidential communications with Iranians through unofficial channels. No "attack command" appeared behind this background - in short, a finger approached the button but wasn't pressed.
These events coincided with a period of escalating protests in Iran: Trump had not previously ruled out the possibility of using force against the backdrop of the situation. But the real military-political calculations around January 14th seem to have put forward a "not now" decision.
Most importantly, this doesn't mean the end of history. Axios notes that the strike option in Washington may return to the agenda in the future - it all depends on how the situation on the field and political decisions change.
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