Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump privately told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would support Israeli military strikes against Iran’s ballistic missile program if diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran collapse, according to a report by CBS News.
Citing two sources familiar with the matter, CBS News reported Sunday that Trump conveyed the message during a meeting with Netanyahu in Florida in December. The conversation reportedly centered on contingency plans should ongoing or potential negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program fail to produce an agreement.
The reported assurance comes at a sensitive moment in U.S.-Iran diplomacy. Tehran has recently signaled conditional openness to nuclear concessions in exchange for sanctions relief, while firmly rejecting demands for “zero enrichment.” At the same time, U.S. officials have reiterated that all options remain on the table should talks break down.
According to the CBS report, Trump indicated that while he prefers a diplomatic resolution, he would back Israeli action targeting Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure if negotiations fail to curb Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. The ballistic missile program has long been a central concern for Israel, which views Iran’s expanding arsenal and regional influence as an existential threat.
Successive Israeli governments have argued that any agreement with Iran must address not only uranium enrichment but also missile development and support for regional armed groups. Tehran, however, has consistently refused to negotiate over its missile program, describing it as a defensive necessity and a sovereign right.
The reported December meeting in Florida underscores the close coordination between Washington and Jerusalem on Iran policy, even as tactical differences sometimes emerge over the timing and scope of diplomatic engagement.
Neither the White House nor the Israeli prime minister’s office immediately commented publicly on the specifics of the CBS report. Iran has also not responded to the reported remarks.
The disclosure adds another layer of pressure to fragile diplomatic efforts, highlighting the implicit military backdrop to ongoing negotiations. Analysts note that explicit U.S. backing for potential Israeli strikes could strengthen Israel’s deterrence posture, but also risks escalating tensions if Tehran interprets the signal as a precursor to coordinated military action.
With indirect talks between Washington and Tehran reportedly continuing and regional military deployments increasing, the question remains whether diplomacy can bridge deep divisions over enrichment levels, sanctions relief, and missile capabilities or whether the confrontation will shift from negotiation rooms to the battlefield.
