Trump’s Iran talks gambit puts Netanyahu in a strategic bind

Fresh signals from Washington about possible talks with Iran are piling pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as missiles and air strikes continue to rip across the region.

Overnight exchanges between Israel and Iran underscored how volatile the conflict has become. But the growing prospect of diplomacy from Donald Trump now risks opening a rift with Israel just as the war reaches a critical stage.

Missiles Over Tel Aviv as War Grinds On

Iran launched several missiles at targets across Israel overnight, striking both northern areas and the south. Israeli officials said the attacks came after dozens of Israeli air strikes hit sites across Tehran, targeting command centres tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In northern Tel Aviv, a missile blast tore balconies from residential buildings and blasted masonry into a crater between apartment blocks. Six people were reported wounded.

One resident said he had just reached his front door when the explosion blew it open, forcing him to flee barefoot through shattered glass as a fire spread through the wreckage behind him.

Washington Signals Talks — Jerusalem Sees Risk

While the fighting intensifies, Washington is sending mixed messages about opening a new diplomatic channel with Tehran.

For some Israeli officials, the move signals that Trump may be looking for a way out of the conflict. That possibility clashes directly with the strategy pursued by Benjamin Netanyahu, who has framed the war as a chance to eliminate Iran’s long-term threat.

Analyst Michael Milstein says the two leaders may now be drifting apart. Netanyahu wants the war to continue, he argues, while Trump may be calculating the costs of escalation.

Netanyahu’s Catch-22

If negotiations begin, Israel’s prime minister could face an uncomfortable dilemma.

Netanyahu has promised Israelis that the war would neutralise threats from Iran and its regional network of allies. Accepting a deal that falls short of that goal risks political backlash at home.

Yet continuing the war without US backing would be almost impossible.

The Strait That Holds the World’s Oil

Iran also holds a powerful bargaining chip: the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil corridors.

Tehran has already threatened to block the route, rattling global energy markets and raising the stakes of the conflict.

Analysts warn the gap between both sides remains vast. Tehran believes it is negotiating from strength, while Washington still expects sweeping concessions.

A War Balanced Between Deal and Escalation

For now, neither side appears ready to blink.

Israel continues striking Iranian and allied targets across the region, while Tehran signals it can escalate further if pushed.

Between diplomacy and another round of strikes, the war now sits on a knife edge — and the next move from Washington could decide which direction it falls.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyk5v8vw05o