TUCKER CARLSON CLAIMS NETANYAHU PRESSURING TRUMP OVER IRAN NUCLEAR STRIKE

Tucker Carlson, a US political commentator, said on X that the Trump administration may be "within days" of launching a nuclear strike on Iran under pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Carlson wrote that Netanyahu was "cornered and desperate" after last week's Israeli elections and "needs this war" to stay close to Trump. He named the likely target as Pickaxe Mountain, a site in central Iran that Washington believes may house an underground nuclear facility. Carlson attributed the claims to an unnamed "informed observer" and offered no evidence. Neither the US nor Israeli government has confirmed that a nuclear strike on Iran has been considered.

Carlson said conventional US weapons could not strike deep enough to destroy tunnels where Iran is alleged to store enriched uranium, calling a nuclear strike "the only military option". He quoted the informed observer as saying "Bibi calls Trump about it every day." Carlson said Netanyahu cannot form a government after last week's vote unless Trump "intervenes directly in Israeli politics" to secure him 61 seats in the Knesset, or faces losing the premiership and possible investigations. Trump ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran in a 16 October interview with Newsmax, saying he "wouldn't use nuclear" and that Washington doesn't "have to".

Trump has said he expects to resume action against Iran once the midterm elections conclude, without giving a timetable. Last week's Israeli election result remains unresolved, with Netanyahu needing further seats to form a government. Carlson's claims have not been corroborated by officials in Washington or Jerusalem. Carlson has grown increasingly critical of the Israeli government and of unconditional US support for it in recent years.