Thursday, February 26, 2026-Officials close to the White House are reportedly pushing a controversial strategic and political calculus amid rising tensions with Iran: they believe “the politics are a lot better” if Israel launches a strike on Iran first, rather than the United States taking the initial military action.
This assessment comes from senior advisers to President Donald Trump, who suggested in closed-door discussions that a pre-emptive Israeli move could change the political dynamics in the U.S. by making it easier to justify subsequent American involvement if Tehran responds aggressively.
The reasoning behind this approach is largely about public perception and political support. According to the report, officials argue that many Americans back strong action against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs but are wary of U.S. casualties or direct initiation of hostilities.
If Israel were to strike first and Iran retaliated, especially against U.S. assets, that could create a rally-around-the-flag effect, potentially broadening domestic backing for a U.S. response. It’s a calculated shift from conventional strategic planning toward managing public opinion as part of wartime decision-making.
Despite these private deliberations, the administration has not publicly committed to any specific military option, and diplomatic talks — including indirect negotiations in Geneva — continue alongside contingency planning.
Officials maintain that the most likely eventual scenario, should conflict escalate, might involve coordinated action with Israel, though the timing and scope remain unresolved. The debate underscores how both political optics and military strategy are deeply intertwined in Washington’s Iran policy discussions.
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