Israel launched additional attacks on Iran on Monday without American authorization, apparently aiming to strengthen its negotiating position in peace talks where the administration has mostly sidelined it. Israel launched attacks on Iranian targets for the first time since the April ceasefire, following Iran's missile strikes on Israel, which Tehran described as a response to Israeli operations in Beirut. Both nations suspended hostilities on Monday following Trump's appeal for an end to the conflict, though each indicated that operations could potentially restart.

Following negotiations that began in February, the former president has sought an agreement with Iran that does not involve participation from Israel. He has publicly encouraged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid steps that might undermine the negotiations, including by pausing military operations in Lebanon, where forces entered in March targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Officials in Tehran have stated that any agreement with Washington is contingent upon a ceasefire being maintained in Lebanon as well.

Following a conversation with Trump, Netanyahu halted planned strikes on Beirut the previous week. Trump subsequently stated that he had described the Israeli leader as "fucking crazy" during the tense conversation, though he added that their relationship remains cordial. Domestic opponents of Netanyahu contended that limiting military operations to support negotiations led by the United States amounted to ceding control without representation in the discussions.

Following the strike exchange between Israel and Iran on Sunday, the president indicated he viewed the matter as concluded, telling Axios that both sides had taken action and it should end there. The president stated that another such measure is unnecessary.

Israeli officials determined that a direct response targeting Iran was necessary to prevent Tehran from influencing future operations in Lebanon. A defence official stated that the government would not find acceptable a situation where attacks from Iran against the country were viewed as a legitimate reciprocal action following strikes on Lebanon.

According to three officials with knowledge of the discussions, Netanyahu gathered senior security and defence personnel to review objectives for a possible limited response to Iran prior to authorising any action. According to a senior defence official, among the objectives was ensuring that any prospective agreement between Washington and Tehran would preserve the ability to conduct operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and maintain troop presence there. According to a senior defence official, this consideration had been discussed by Netanyahu during weekend telephone conversations with Trump.

The prime minister has made no public comment since military operations targeting Iran restarted in the early hours of Monday. A response to the request for comment was not provided by the office at that time.

The recent escalation in hostilities between the two nations and the prime minister's decision not to comply with the president's requests illustrate tensions that have periodically appeared between the two leaders. According to reports, Netanyahu has privately told aides he finds it difficult to shape the president's views on Iran, stating he lacks leverage over the decision-making process. Despite possessing the technical capacity to conduct strikes independently, military analysts note that sustained operations beyond several weeks would require American authorisation and logistical assistance, with one researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies observing that munitions depletion limits extended autonomous action.