Israeli Finance Minister Betzel Smotrich said that Tel Aviv was not interested in rejoining the war against Iran. Multiple outlets have reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convinced President Donald Trump to start the war.
“The State of Israel has no interest in joining the contained confrontation between Iran and the United States,” the Israeli minister said on Tuesday. “The current situation is the best one for us.”
In February, the US and Israel launched a joint surprise attack on Iran that ignited a region-wide war. Washington and Tel Aviv promised a decisive victory that would topple the government in Tehran as well as decimate Iran’s missile and nuclear programs. However, Iranian forces have netted strategic victories during the conflict, such as controlling the Strait of Hormuz, and the IRGC has maintained its ability to hit US bases in the region.
While Iran’s initial retaliation included strikes against Israel, the Islamic Republic has largely stopped targeting the Jewish State following a ceasefire between the US and Iran that was signed in April.
The truce between the US and Iran collapsed last week after Washington and Tel Aviv violated the Memorandum of Understanding. At least three US soldiers have been killed since fighting was resumed.
Israeli officials have said they do not plan to resume strikes against Iran unless Tehran fires first or at Trump’s request.
Tel Aviv remains in active war on multiple fronts, including Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially explained that the US started the war against Iran because Israel was going to attack and Tehran would respond by attacking American bases in the region.
