Trump, Netanyahu reached 'full understanding' on Iran policy - Al-monitor

The United States and Israel have reached a "full understanding" on how to face Iran's nuclear program even if no deal is reached, the Al-monitor news website said citing an Israeli diplomatic source as saying.

The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post reported this week citing US intelligence assessments from last month that Israel saw an opening for an attack on Iranian nuclear sites as early as the first of this year.

Israel is basing its assessment, the papers reported, on Iran's weakness after an Oct. 26 Israeli attack knocked out much of its air defenses and a greater perceived receptiveness to military action from top backer the United States.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington this month and told US President Donald Trump at a White House Press conference that the two leaders "see eye to eye" on the danger posed by Iran after Tehran tried to kill them both.

The two hawkish leaders who have made facing down Iran a central part of their foreign policy, appeared close and said they ruled out Iran getting nuclear weapons.

Iran denies seeking a weapon but Israel says they are lying and seek a bomb to destroy the Jewish State.

"The prime minister is in a win-win situation," Al-Monitor quoted a Netanyahu associate as saying.

"If Trump achieves a nuclear agreement with Iran, it can be assumed that it will be a much better agreement than Obama's agreement, and Netanyahu believes that a large part of Israel's demands for such an agreement will be fulfilled thanks to its cooperation with the United States," the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity."

Trump signed a directive restoring the so-called maximum pressure policy on Iran of his first term and warned of "catastrophic" consequences if Tehran does not make a deal on its nuclear program.

Shortly after he said any reports of a devastating US-Israeli attack on Iran were "greatly exaggerated". Iran's Supreme Leader still promptly ruled out talks with Trump, saying they would be "neither wise, intelligent nor honorable."

The Netanyahu associate cited by Al-Monitor said US forces would help any Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites if talks fail.

"In this case, the gates of hell will be opened for Iran, but this time really. Trump will give Netanyahu the green light, and the Americans will not stand idly by, but will help Israel with whatever it takes for such an attack to succeed."