NEW YORK, October 26. /TASS/. Donald Trump refused to carry out a joint US-Israeli strike against Iran before the elections in the Jewish state, as requested by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN reported, citing American and Israeli sources.
"Netanyahu really wanted and tried to convince Trump for a joint attack in Iran before the elections, and Trump did not give a green light," the network quoted an Israeli source as saying. According to the source, "one reason Trump declined is because Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Eyal Zamir told US Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, that it would harm the elections in Israel and lead to their postponement."
According to CNN’s sources, Israel "was preparing for the possibility of launching additional attacks against Iran in the last week or so and had been lobbying US officials to support and complement those new strikes," however, it has now postponed its plans and is preparing for joint operations with the United States, likely after the US midterm elections. They specified that Israel agreed to the delay in part because it needs US support for missile defense.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding providing for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. However, in the early morning hours of July 8, the US resumed large-scale strikes against Iran, accusing it of violating the terms of the agreements reached on the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 25% of global oil trade and about 20% of liquefied natural gas trade pass through the strait. Later, the US administration effectively indicated that it was halting large-scale military action against Iran and pursuing economic strangulation through stricter sanctions.