Donald Trump committed the United States to war with Iran in February after being swayed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite vocal reservations from his own cabinet and national security team. A report published by The New York Times details how the president sidelined key advisors, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to greenlight the military campaign.
The push for conflict
The pivot point occurred on February 12 during a high-stakes meeting at the White House. Netanyahu, joined remotely by Mossad chief David Barnea, argued that a military strike could decapitate the Iranian regime, dismantle its nuclear and missile programs, and trigger a popular uprising to install new leadership. He also insisted that Iran lacked the naval capacity to successfully close the Strait of Hormuz.
When Trump convened his inner circle in the Situation Room, the response was far from unanimous. While intelligence officials deemed the destruction of military infrastructure achievable, they warned that forcing a regime change through civil unrest was practically impossible.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance both expressed deep skepticism toward the operation. Rubio suggested limiting the scope of any action, while Vance openly questioned the strategic value of the conflict. “You know that I think it’s a terrible idea, but if you want to do it, I will support you,” Vance reportedly said, calling the potential war a “waste of resources.”
General Dan Caine, Trump’s chief of staff, offered a blunt warning to the president regarding Israeli influence. “Sir, in my experience, this is the Israeli practice. They tend to over-promise and their plans are not always well-defined. They know they need us, and that is why they pressure us,” Caine stated.
Despite these warnings, two factors ultimately convinced Trump: the administration’s recent success in capturing Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and intelligence reports suggesting that diplomatic solutions would take months to bear fruit. The president’s own confidence in his instincts overcame his cabinet’s doubts.
“Everyone trusted the president’s instinct. They had seen him make bold decisions, take incalculable risks, and somehow emerge victorious,” the report noted.
The conflict began on February 28. While U.S. and Israeli forces successfully dismantled significant portions of Iran’s command structure, the promised regime change remains elusive. The war is currently paused under a two-week truce as negotiators attempt to reach a long-term resolution.
