NEW DELHI, MARCH 24, 2026 — As the US-Iran war enters its fourth week, a series of explosive reports from Reuters and AFP have pulled back the curtain on the final 48 hours leading up to “Operation Epic Fury.” New details suggest that a private phone call between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump served as the “closing pitch” that successfully framed the war not just as a strategic necessity, but as personal “revenge” for Iranian plots to assassinate Trump during his 2024 campaign.
The 48-Hour Countdown
Less than two days before the “decapitation strike” that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Netanyahu reportedly held a secret call with Trump to capitalize on a narrowing intelligence window.
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The Intelligence Shift: Intelligence initially suggested a meeting of top Iranian aides for Saturday night. When it was moved to Saturday morning, Netanyahu urged Trump to act immediately, arguing there might never be a better chance to eliminate the regime’s core.
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The “Revenge” Angle: Netanyahu reportedly highlighted the 2024 murder-for-hire plot allegedly orchestrated by Tehran against Trump. This narrative was later echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who noted, “Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh.“
Netanyahu’s Historic Pitch
Netanyahu’s argument to a traditionally “America First” president focused on three pillars:
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Regime Change: He suggested that the elimination of Khamenei would trigger a popular uprising, overthrowing the theocratic system. (Note: The CIA reportedly disagreed, correctly predicting a hardline succession).
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Homeland Security: Netanyahu briefed Trump on Iran’s expanding ballistic missile capabilities, claiming they could soon strike the US mainland.
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The “Maduro” Precedent: The successful US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3 served as a proof-of-concept, showing that high-profile targets could be removed with minimal initial US casualties.
The Cost of “Epic Fury”
While the White House maintains the operation was intended to “annihilate the Iranian Navy and nuclear capacity,” the human and economic toll has been historic:
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Casualties: At least 13 US service members and over 2,300 Iranian civilians have been killed.
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Economic Shock: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global surge in oil prices and fuel shortages in countries as far as Vietnam.
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The Succession: Contrary to hopes of a moderate shift, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has taken power and is regarded as even more hardline than his father.
Timeline of the Escalation (2026)
| Date | Event |
| Jan 3 | US captures Nicolas Maduro; seen as a military “green light.” |
| Feb 24 | Marco Rubio warns Congress that an Israeli strike is “inevitable.” |
| Feb 26 | Netanyahu makes his “closing pitch” to Trump via telephone. |
| Feb 27 | Trump issues final orders for “Operation Epic Fury.” |
| Feb 28 | Decapitation strike kills Ali Khamenei and senior IRGC leaders. |
