Inside Trump, Netanyahu's dilemma: Strike Iran before elections or wait

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump last week discussed the possibility of launching a major new operation against Iran before the Israeli and U.S. elections, according to two U.S. officials, one Israeli official and a fourth source with knowledge of the matter.

Netanyahu said during the call that he was concerned about Israeli intelligence indicating Iran was taking troubling steps to reconstitute its nuclear program, according to the Israeli official.

The Israeli leader's call with Trump about the possible attack took place before Trump said he would not strike Iran ahead of the midterms.

Why it matters: Resuming major combat operations in Iran would inject a volatile new issue into the Oct.

27 Israeli elections and the U.S. midterms a week later.

But the Israeli and U.S. militaries are still on alert and concluding preparations to be ready in case he changes his mind, sources said.

" Bibi seems to want to go in again.

He has talked to the president about it a couple times, and the president has said, 'Well, you know, Bibi, go ahead and get ready.' But there's really no commitment. 'Go ahead and get ready' is maybe now, maybe later, maybe never," a U.S. official said.

A White House official said it's "false" that Trump and Netanyahu discussed resuming the war.

"The President has said that we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections," the person said.

Netanyahu's office said that "the prime minister maintains regular contact with President Trump and senior U.S. administration officials and does not comment on the content of their conversations." Driving the news: Netanyahu has had several calls with Trump over the last two weeks about returning to major combat operations in Iran.

According to the sources, Netanyahu and Trump spoke about a potential joint U.S.-Israeli operation that would hit military and nuclear targets.

Netanyahu expressed concern about steps Israel believes Iran is taking to reconstitute all of the various parts of its nuclear program.

Israel is especially concerned about Iran potentially operating Pickaxe Mountain as a uranium enrichment site.