Two months, two tracks: How Trump chose war with Iran

"The seeds of Saturday's operation were planted in late December, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Anti-regime protests had just begun in Iran, and it wasn't yet clear how significant they would become. Netanyahu used the meeting to discuss a follow-up to last year's joint strikes - mostly focused on Iran's ballistic missile capabilities - tentatively planned for around May."

"On Jan. 14, Trump was on the verge of ordering strikes but pulled back. Instead, he ordered a massive military buildup in the Middle East, and began secretly planning a joint operation with Israel. Over the following weeks, the Mossad director visited D.C. twice, followed by the Israeli military intelligence chief and the IDF chief of staff - all coordinating what would become Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion."

"In the end, the ambiguity was itself a strategic asset, leaving Iran's leadership vulnerable to the largest aerial attack ever conducted by the Israeli military."

Following anti-regime protests in Iran in late December, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss potential military operations against Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. As the Iranian regime intensified its crackdown, Trump shifted from considering strikes to orchestrating a comprehensive strategy involving massive military buildup in the Middle East and secret coordination with Israel. High-level Israeli officials, including the Mossad director and IDF chief of staff, made multiple visits to Washington to plan joint operations. Simultaneously, Trump pursued diplomatic negotiations with Iran through meetings in Oman, with envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff exploring whether military leverage could produce a deal. The ambiguity surrounding Trump's intentions created strategic advantage, ultimately leaving Iran vulnerable to the largest Israeli aerial attack ever conducted.

Read at Axios