Great Powers Need Allies: Netanyahu’s Dire Warning On Iran’s Nuclear Missile Ambitions To Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly cautioned former U.S. President Donald Trump that Iran is actively working to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with a potential range reaching American soil, including Washington and New York. He framed this warning as a reminder that even a global power like the United States cannot act unilaterally in facing such challenges - “great powers need allies,” he said, pointing to Israel as a committed partner bearing the burden of frontline security.

Netanyahu’s remarks came during a recent interview in which he reiterated Israel’s view that Iran’s nuclear and missile programs pose an existential danger not just to the Middle East region but to global security. He urged that the United States treat Israel not merely as an ally of convenience but as an essential partner in confronting the escalating threat from Tehran. In that context, he criticized any posture of “America First” that might suggest isolationism, asserting that even the most powerful nations require loyal allies in complex geopolitical conflicts.

Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Nevertheless, global intelligence assessments and regional actors have long accused Tehran of operating in gray zones - advancing uranium enrichment, constructing ballistic missile infrastructure, and reducing transparency with international inspectors. Recent reports claim that Iran has built significant stockpiles of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, levels approaching military grade and raising concerns about the possibilities of weaponization.

Tensions escalated further in mid-2025, when Israel carried out airstrikes across multiple sites inside Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, missile installations, and infrastructure believed to support Tehran’s strategic weapons efforts. In response, Iran launched missile attacks targeting Israel as well as military bases hosting U.S. forces, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The cycle of attacks and counterattacks stretched over 12 days before a ceasefire took hold, although both sides warn that it may be only a temporary pause.

Israeli officials contend that the strikes succeeded in delaying parts of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and degrading missile capabilities. Netanyahu has claimed these operations removed an imminent threat, arguing that continued inaction would have allowed Iran to eventually stage an attack on U.S. territory itself. He credits cooperation with Washington in enabling these capabilities. Whether the Iranian program was fully dismantled or merely set back remains uncertain.

In the current climate, Netanyahu’s message to Trump takes on strategic significance. The warning serves as both a political signal and a diplomatic appeal: to reinforce the U.S.- Israel alliance, to preempt critiques of Israeli military action, and to urge continued American involvement in containing Iran’s ambitions. It underscores Israel’s desire not to be sidelined in decisions affecting its security while positioning itself as a proactive partner rather than a passive ward.

For Washington, the challenge is nuanced. Balancing pressure on Tehran, maintaining credibility as a security guarantor, and managing domestic and international constraints all complicate any direct response. Netanyahu’s intervention aims to tip that balance by insisting that the U.S. cannot afford to distance itself from the Middle East or to expect Israel to act alone against Iran’s evolving capabilities.