Netanyahu Pushes Trump for New Iran Strikes Once Midterms End, AP Says

Benjamin Netanyahu asked the U.S. to launch a fresh round of strikes on Iran once the midterm elections are in the books, the Associated Press reports. The Israeli leader made the pitch during a weekend call with President Donald Trump, per regional officials cited by the AP. A person briefed on the conversation said Trump stopped short of committing to any military action.

The White House stayed quiet when asked about the call, and Israel's government offered no immediate comment, according to the AP. Not everyone in the neighborhood is cheering the idea: some U.S. allies in the Middle East have flagged fears that another round of strikes would destabilize the region.

The push comes right on the heels of U.S. military action. Several media outlets reported limited American strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the day before voters headed to the polls. A U.S. official quoted by the AP said the targets were Iranians using "surface-to-air missiles against U.S. assets." The New York Times reported that American officials framed the operation as small in scale and defensive, with no immediate plans to escalate further.

Where the Iran war goes next is anyone's guess. Washington and Tehran remain locked in a drawn-out stalemate with no resolution in sight, and the prospect of renewed fighting has fed worries about disruptions to critical oil supplies. Shipping data suggests crude flows out of the region have started showing some signs of recovery.

There's still a diplomatic lane open. Trump said in a social media post on Monday that he believes an agreement with Iran "could happen." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is willing to pursue dialogue, and Iran's foreign minister said talks with Qatari mediators are ongoing.