US commentator Tucker Carlson claims Netanyahu is pressuring Trump for nuclear strike on Iran
Carlson’s allegations come amid reports of renewed discussions between Netanyahu and Trump over the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran following the US midterm elections.
Published: Nov 02, 2026, 01:33 PM IST
| Updated: Nov 02, 2026, 01:36 PM IST
Carlson’s allegations come amid reports of renewed discussions between Netanyahu and Trump over the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran following the US midterm elections.
US conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing US President Donald Trump to consider a nuclear strike against Iran, claiming that a suspected underground nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran could be targeted.
In a lengthy post on X on Sunday, Carlson claimed that the Trump administration could be days away from considering such an attack. He alleged that Netanyahu had been lobbying senior US officials to resume military operations against Tehran rather than pursue a diplomatic settlement.
Carlson claims Netanyahu is pushing for nuclear attack
“Under pressure from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Trump administration may be within days of launching a nuclear strike on Iran. The target would be Pickax Mountain in central Iran, where Israeli intelligence claims the Iranian government has restarted its nuclear enrichment program,” Carlson wrote.
He argued that conventional American weapons would be unable to penetrate the underground facility, leaving a nuclear strike as the only military option.
“No conventional weapon in the American arsenal can penetrate 300 feet of solid granite to destroy the tunnels where enrichment is supposedly taking place. The only military option is a nuclear strike. Netanyahu has been pushing hard for one,” Carlson claimed.
He added that an informed observer told him, “Bibi calls Trump about it every day.”
Carlson also alleged that Netanyahu’s domestic political circumstances were influencing his position on Iran, claiming that the Israeli Prime Minister was seeking continued support from Trump.
“Netanyahu is cornered and desperate. After last week’s election results, he can’t form a government unless Trump intervenes directly in Israeli politics and brokers a deal with other parties that gives Netanyahu 61 seats in the Knesset. Otherwise, he is out as prime minister and on his way to ignominy, investigations and possibly jail. Netanyahu must stay close to Trump. He needs this war,” he wrote.
Carlson names senior US officials in allegations
The commentator further alleged that Netanyahu had pressured senior members of the Trump administration, including US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper.
Carlson claimed that both officials opposed a negotiated settlement and favoured restarting major combat operations against Iran.
He also named US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, alleging that they were following Netanyahu’s position. Carlson further claimed that former US President Barack Obama had opposed the proposed Iran peace agreement during a recent meeting.
These claims were made in Carlson’s post and have not been independently verified.
Warning of regional and global economic fallout
Carlson warned that renewed military action against Iran, particularly a nuclear strike, could have severe consequences for the Middle East and the global economy.
He claimed that Gulf countries were concerned about the prospect of another conflict, adding that the United Arab Emirates had refused to join Netanyahu’s alleged lobbying effort for a fresh attack on Iran.
The commentator also highlighted the potential impact on global energy and fertiliser markets, claiming that damage to oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz could worsen economic disruptions.
He further alleged that a nuclear strike on Pickaxe Mountain could contaminate the Persian Gulf and affect the water supply of millions of people.
Carlson warned that an American nuclear strike against Iran could establish a dangerous international precedent, potentially encouraging other countries to consider using nuclear weapons.
He also claimed that the Trump administration had been revising America’s nuclear doctrine since February to make the first use of so-called “battlefield nukes” easier.
Carlson says Trump could decide by November 7
Carlson claimed that Trump could make a decision on the possible use of nuclear weapons by November 7, while suggesting that the US President was still weighing diplomatic options.
“Close observers say Trump is likely to decide by next weekend whether or not to use nuclear weapons. That would be November 7, six days from now. To his credit, he’s hesitating,” Carlson wrote.
He added that Trump was listening to Vice President JD Vance and US envoy Steve Witkoff, who, according to Carlson, were advocating a negotiated agreement with Iran.
Carlson also claimed that people familiar with Iranian decision-makers believed there was a consensus that further conflict would be detrimental and that a negotiated settlement was worth pursuing.
Axios reports Netanyahu-Trump talks on Iran strikes
Carlson’s allegations come amid reports of renewed discussions between Netanyahu and Trump over the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran following the US midterm elections.
According to a report by Axios, Netanyahu has urged Trump to launch fresh military strikes against Iran immediately after Tuesday’s US midterm elections, amid concerns in Israel over Washington’s continued pursuit of a diplomatic solution with Tehran.
Axios reported that Trump and Netanyahu held a telephone conversation on Saturday to discuss the progress of US negotiations with Iran and the possibility of resuming military operations.
An Israeli source described the conversation as “tough”, while a US source characterised it as “direct”.
According to Axios, Netanyahu is pushing for renewed military action after the midterms, while Trump wants negotiations with Tehran to continue for now.
The report further stated that Trump is pursuing parallel diplomatic and military strategies, seeking an agreement to restart peace talks while keeping preparations underway for a possible resumption of major combat operations after the elections.
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