Trump and Netanyahu explored all Iran options including attack, Israeli official says

Trump and Netanyahu explore all Iran options as Middle East conflict escalates

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House to explore all possible paths to curb Iran's nuclear program, including diplomacy, economic pressure, and force, according to a senior Israeli official. The high-stakes discussion, detailed by Aol, touched upon three primary U.S. Options: a negotiated deal, continued blockades and economic pressures, and a massive military strike, alongside unspecified new ideas introduced by Netanyahu.

The meeting followed days of intense diplomatic and military friction. Ahead of the talks, Trump voiced irritation that details had surfaced publicly regarding Israeli plans to discuss new intelligence on Pickaxe Mountain, a deep-underground nuclear facility that Trump has threatened to bomb. Despite the friction, the senior Israeli official denied that Netanyahu pushed Trump to escalate militarily, emphasizing that Trump remains the senior partner in the allies' joint approach.

Media additions

The diplomatic consultations coincided with a sharp escalation across the region. Iran launched a surprise ballistic missile attack on American forces in Jordan, forcing U.S. Air defenses to intercept the incoming barrage. U.S. Central Command confirmed that all missiles were thwarted, but the unprovoked strike shattered a brief military pause. In retaliation, U.S. And Saudi Arabian forces conducted joint airstrikes targeting Iran-aligned paramilitary groups in Iraq.

According to Al Jazeera, the joint strikes killed at least twenty members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces and wounded dozens more. The operation marked the first time Riyadh officially joined U.S. Military operations in the region. The Iraqi presidency condemned the strikes as a blatant violation of sovereignty, while the Iraqi prime minister postponed an upcoming official visit to Saudi Arabia.

The conflict expanded further when a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker, the Energos Winter, was struck by a drone at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta. The resulting fire spread to a liquefied natural gas cargo ship, forcing crew evacuations before maritime security teams brought the blaze under control, as reported by Yahoo News. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the strike, which marked the first time Egypt has been directly targeted in the current war.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remained a critical flashpoint. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had struck and halted three oil tankers traveling along what it termed unsafe routes. This came after Tehran rejected an Omani proposal to jointly manage traffic through the vital waterway. The maritime disruptions, combined with renewed fighting, triggered a sharp surge in global energy markets, with Brent crude climbing significantly.

As CBS News reported, the United States continued to strictly enforce its naval blockade against Iran, redirecting dozens of commercial vessels and boarding several others. President Trump warned that the United States would hit Iran hard if a comprehensive agreement is not reached, stating that the regime would face a severe beating if it continues its attacks on regional shipping and international forces.

Recent Escalations and Regional Developments

• Jordanian air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran targeting its territory.
• Iran rejected an Omani proposal to share management of shipping transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Global oil benchmark Brent crude jumped following the renewal of hostilities and threats of an expanded war.

What to watch next

Diplomatic efforts remain fluid amid conflicting signals from Tehran and Washington. Observers will be closely watching whether indirect talks facilitated by Oman yield any new frameworks for reopening maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz, or if the recent resumption of airstrikes leads to a wider regional conflagration. Further updates on regional security and international diplomacy will be tracked via World coverage.