Kerry: Netanyahu pushed multiple US presidents to strike Iran; only Trump agreed

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had persistently pressed American presidents to launch military strikes against Iran, but only Donald Trump eventually agreed. Speaking on “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” on Friday, Kerry said he participated in multiple discussions with Netanyahu and that “he wanted us to strike.” Kerry recalled that Netanyahu presented a detailed case directly to President Barack Obama, adding: “President Obama refused. President Joe Biden refused. President George W. Bush refused.”

A Four‑Point Pitch

Referring to recent reporting, Kerry said Netanyahu made a “four‑point pitch” for military action, arguing that strikes could “kill the leadership,” “incite a change of regime,” and “destroy the military.” Kerry described the reporting as credible and noted that the Israeli premier had presented these arguments in meetings involving senior officials where different views were considered. The US and Israel eventually launched an offensive against Iran on 28 February, killing then‑Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many other senior political and military leaders.

Ceasefire and Regional Fallout

Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes against Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf states hosting US assets, and restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, together with Türkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, secured a two‑week ceasefire on Wednesday, exactly 40 days after the war began. As part of the deal, the two sides are meeting in Islamabad on Saturday to negotiate a lasting peace. Kerry’s account underscores how decades of Israeli advocacy finally culminated in a US‑led war that has now killed thousands and destabilised the entire Middle East.