Netanyahu to Urge Trump: Hit Iran Hard Before It Builds The Bomb

Paul Riverbank, 12/21/2025Israeli PM Netanyahu seeks Trump's backing for renewed action against Iran’s nuclear rebuild, spotlighting rising regional tensions and the fragile Middle East security landscape as the Mar-a-Lago summit approaches.

Officially, the itinerary looks straightforward: Netanyahu, ever the tactician, will be meeting with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. But sources familiar with the planned sit-down confide that the real agenda is anything but routine. At the heart of their conversation is Iran—specifically, new Israeli intelligence reports that point to Tehran rapidly restoring both its ballistic missile program and the very nuclear sites it claims are for energy, not weapons. Many of these sites, such as Fordow and Natanz, were battered during June’s dramatic airstrikes, which saw Israeli jets and American B-52 bombers flying in rare tandem.

Those raids, which momentarily knocked Iran’s nuclear ambitions off course, were hailed as a triumph in both Jerusalem and Washington. However, Pentagon insiders have been quietly tamping down expectations for months. One Defense Department analyst put it bluntly: “It was a blow but not a knockout punch. We’ve likely bought months, not years.”

That temporary setback hasn’t done much to deter Iran’s leadership. In the wake of the strikes, Tehran promptly shut out international inspectors, closing the blinds, so to speak, on the world’s ability to verify what’s happening behind reinforced doors. The official stance offered by Iranian spokesmen remains stubbornly consistent: peaceful purposes, nothing more. But skepticism runs deep. Mossad director David Barnea, never one to mince words, recently offered a grim assessment: “The drive to develop a nuclear bomb continues, no matter what they tell the cameras.”

Netanyahu plans to waste no time conveying these points to Trump—who, as one might expect, has responded on his own terms. Just last week, Trump boasted, “I already destroyed the Iran nuclear threat,” painting his administration’s legacy as a period of rare stability in the Middle East. Israeli officials, however, see things differently. “There’s a clock ticking,” said one adviser. “If we don’t act soon, the window closes. And if it closes, it’s not just Israel that’s at risk—it’s the entire region, maybe beyond.” In Jerusalem’s view, it is time to talk about the possibility, and perhaps the necessity, of renewed joint or solo action.

Recent events lend weight to Israeli fears. While the world’s eyes have drifted toward other crises, Tehran’s proxies have been stirring. This summer, Houthi rebels in Yemen responded to the airstrikes by launching their own retaliatory attacks. Over the border in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s silence is seen as ominous—the organization is rarely idle, and Israeli intelligence considers the pause both watchful and temporary.

Meanwhile, back in Israel, anxiety simmers. The ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza is fragile at best: each day seems to bring a new incident that threatens to unravel the truce. The country’s security establishment, always wary, now speaks in even more urgent tones.

Netanyahu’s upcoming U.S. visit has stirred controversy far from regional battlegrounds. In New York, an invite from Brooklyn councilwoman Inna Vernikov to the mayor-elect’s inauguration triggered swift opposition. Progressive city leaders and activists, referencing the International Criminal Court’s warrant for Netanyahu, have made noise about possible arrest—a legal fantasy, perhaps, but one that reflects the fractious domestic mood. Representative Elise Stefanik and others in Congress have wasted no time pushing back, dismissing these calls as unserious and vowing to protect the prime minister from any such measures.

For his part, Netanyahu brushes the controversy aside, insisting he’s “not afraid” of New York, and reminding American audiences there’s no provision in U.S. law for local authorities to detain a sitting foreign premier. “I’ve walked into bigger storms,” he remarked to one Israeli broadcaster.

With the Mar-a-Lago meeting drawing near, the strategic stakes are unmistakable. Israeli officials are not just seeking reassurances—they are, if private conversations are any guide, likely to press for real options on the table. Whether that means bilateral military action or concerted diplomatic pressure, the next moves will reverberate across capitals from Riyadh to Brussels.

No one expects a neat resolution from a single handshake in Florida, especially not with so many actors—open and shadowy—waiting their turn. Yet if the past few months have taught us anything, it’s that Tehran’s nuclear program remains a live wire. The choices made in the coming weeks could very well redraw the map of Middle East security, with consequences likely to spill far beyond the region.

When Benjamin Netanyahu boards his flight to Florida in a few weeks, he’ll be carrying more than a diplomatic satchel. This time, the Israeli prime minister arrives not just as a foreign leader but as a man on a mission—a mission with repercussions far beyond Tel Aviv or Washington.Officially, the itinerary looks straightforward: Netanyahu, ever the tactician, will be meeting with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. But sources familiar with the planned sit-down confide that the real agenda is anything but routine. At the heart of their conversation is Iran—specifically, new Israeli intelligence reports that point to Tehran rapidly restoring both its ballistic missile program and the very nuclear sites it claims are for energy, not weapons. Many of these sites, such as Fordow and Natanz, were battered during June’s dramatic airstrikes, which saw Israeli jets and American B-52 bombers flying in rare tandem.Those raids, which momentarily knocked Iran’s nuclear ambitions off course, were hailed as a triumph in both Jerusalem and Washington. However, Pentagon insiders have been quietly tamping down expectations for months. One Defense Department analyst put it bluntly: “It was a blow but not a knockout punch. We’ve likely bought months, not years.”That temporary setback hasn’t done much to deter Iran’s leadership. In the wake of the strikes, Tehran promptly shut out international inspectors, closing the blinds, so to speak, on the world’s ability to verify what’s happening behind reinforced doors. The official stance offered by Iranian spokesmen remains stubbornly consistent: peaceful purposes, nothing more. But skepticism runs deep. Mossad director David Barnea, never one to mince words, recently offered a grim assessment: “The drive to develop a nuclear bomb continues, no matter what they tell the cameras.”Netanyahu plans to waste no time conveying these points to Trump—who, as one might expect, has responded on his own terms. Just last week, Trump boasted, “I already destroyed the Iran nuclear threat,” painting his administration’s legacy as a period of rare stability in the Middle East. Israeli officials, however, see things differently. “There’s a clock ticking,” said one adviser. “If we don’t act soon, the window closes. And if it closes, it’s not just Israel that’s at risk—it’s the entire region, maybe beyond.” In Jerusalem’s view, it is time to talk about the possibility, and perhaps the necessity, of renewed joint or solo action.Recent events lend weight to Israeli fears. While the world’s eyes have drifted toward other crises, Tehran’s proxies have been stirring. This summer, Houthi rebels in Yemen responded to the airstrikes by launching their own retaliatory attacks. Over the border in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s silence is seen as ominous—the organization is rarely idle, and Israeli intelligence considers the pause both watchful and temporary.Meanwhile, back in Israel, anxiety simmers. The ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza is fragile at best: each day seems to bring a new incident that threatens to unravel the truce. The country’s security establishment, always wary, now speaks in even more urgent tones.Netanyahu’s upcoming U.S. visit has stirred controversy far from regional battlegrounds. In New York, an invite from Brooklyn councilwoman Inna Vernikov to the mayor-elect’s inauguration triggered swift opposition. Progressive city leaders and activists, referencing the International Criminal Court’s warrant for Netanyahu, have made noise about possible arrest—a legal fantasy, perhaps, but one that reflects the fractious domestic mood. Representative Elise Stefanik and others in Congress have wasted no time pushing back, dismissing these calls as unserious and vowing to protect the prime minister from any such measures.For his part, Netanyahu brushes the controversy aside, insisting he’s “not afraid” of New York, and reminding American audiences there’s no provision in U.S. law for local authorities to detain a sitting foreign premier. “I’ve walked into bigger storms,” he remarked to one Israeli broadcaster.With the Mar-a-Lago meeting drawing near, the strategic stakes are unmistakable. Israeli officials are not just seeking reassurances—they are, if private conversations are any guide, likely to press for real options on the table. Whether that means bilateral military action or concerted diplomatic pressure, the next moves will reverberate across capitals from Riyadh to Brussels.No one expects a neat resolution from a single handshake in Florida, especially not with so many actors—open and shadowy—waiting their turn. Yet if the past few months have taught us anything, it’s that Tehran’s nuclear program remains a live wire. The choices made in the coming weeks could very well redraw the map of Middle East security, with consequences likely to spill far beyond the region.