On Iran: Seeking U.S. Assistance

Israel’s determination to stop Iran from entrenching itself or its proxies in Syria has led to escalating clashes, in which Israel has made clear it will take care of matters on its own.

But Israel’s desire to prevent Iran from establishing an overland supply line through Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon would require United States forces to interdict Iran’s efforts. Yet American military officials have said that, so far, countering Iran is not part of their mission in Syria.

Image Michele Flournoy, a former under secretary for policy at the Defense Department, said Mr. Netanyahu needed to get the Trump administration to focus on Iran’s moves in Syria. Credit... Yuri Gripas/Reuters

Michèle Flournoy, a former under secretary for policy at the United States Defense Department, said Mr. Netanyahu needed above all else to get the Trump administration to focus, in talks over ending the Syria war, on Iran’s moves there and the risk of a broader regional conflict embroiling Israel.

“The U.S. is not quite missing in action in the negotiations, but it’s certainly not carrying a lot of water at this point,” Ms. Flournoy said. “And it needs to be carrying a lot of water on this, not just for our own interests but for Israel — because Israel doesn’t have a seat at the table.”

Mr. Netanyahu is likely to resume his critique of the Iran nuclear deal in his meeting with Mr. Trump, Ms. Flournoy said. But she warned that even Israel’s national security establishment believed the agreement was worth preserving, in hopes of improving or extending it. “The worry is that Bibi pumps up Trump to walk away from the deal,” she said, using Mr. Netanyahu’s nickname. “I would hope that he would exercise some restraint.”