Trump and Netanyahu warn Iran as fears of renewed war grow

JERUSALEM — US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have issued public warnings to Iran while saying they do not want the war to resume, according to a JTA report published on October 19, 2026.

Trump endorsed Netanyahu for prime minister on Sunday. He said Netanyahu's leadership was critical to any renewed campaign against Iran, JTA reported.

In several interviews, including one with Channel 14, Netanyahu said Iran would pay heavily for any attack on Israel.

"If Iran makes a mistake and tries to attack us, it will simply make the mistake of its life." — Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister

He also said a return to war was "not convenient" for Israel weeks before its October 27 election. Israel has no absentee voting, JTA noted.

Trump told reporters in Atlanta last week: "Wait til you see what we do to Iran," according to the same report.

In posts on Telegram on Monday, Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera Mubasher said Trump had told people who doubt the strength of the US military to "ask Venezuela or Iran." The posts were unverified, and the source material does not say where or when Trump made the remark.

Military and economic pressure

JTA reported that a third US aircraft carrier is expected to reach the Middle East soon. It described this as a sign that Washington may be preparing for a possible resumption of hostilities. US midterm elections are due on November 3.

The war, which JTA said began with attacks on February 28 and lasted about two months, was paused in April. JTA said Iran continues to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil flows. It said the US is maintaining economic pressure on Tehran.

According to the report, oil prices have risen 46 percent to $104 a barrel since the February 28 attacks. US gasoline prices have risen 46 percent to $4.36 a gallon. JTA said this could give Trump a further incentive to strike.

Analysts' views

Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and a former head of the Iran branch in Israeli military intelligence's research division, told JTA: "Without a diplomatic settlement, the chances of escalation are very high."

He said Trump "cannot declare victory now, but he also cannot leave without doing something." He added that Iran cannot accept a continued naval blockade and will keep attacking tankers.

Avner Vilan, a former senior Israeli security official, said Trump has stated he will not attack before the midterms and has good reasons to wait. He warned that "all it would take is one significant incident to send things spiraling out of control."

Gil Murciano, head of the Israeli think tank Mitvim, said the war's unpopularity in the US makes a US-initiated escalation before the midterms less likely. A Pew Research Center poll released last week found that 64 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of US military action against Iran, according to JTA.

Background

Trump has not reached a diplomatic agreement with Iran, JTA reported. Both Tehran and Washington say they won the earlier war. JTA said Iran's government remains in power, can rebuild its nuclear and ballistic missile capacity, and still exerts some control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A poll by the Institute for National Security Studies last month found Israelis divided on whether to launch a preemptive strike on Iran. Opponents slightly outnumbered supporters.

JTA also cited a New York Times report on discussions among Trump administration officials. The available text of the JTA report is cut off at that point, and the details could not be confirmed.