Israel's ambassador tried to pin the Iran war on the US while new evidence shows Israel pushed for it all along, and that's fueling a political mess for Republicans heading into the next election.

• A State Department release stated the US entered the Iran conflict "at the request of" Israel, directly contradicting Israeli officials now claiming it was purely a US decision.
• Voters punished Republicans hard in the midterms over the unpopular war, pushing figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and VP JD Vance to publicly distance themselves from a war they both backed.
• Leaked emails reportedly show a major donor telling an Israeli official he vetted Rubio as reliably pro-Israel before funneling millions into a pro-Rubio super PAC.
• There are early signs of a possible peace opening, with Iran back at the negotiating table through Qatari-mediated talks, even as the Pentagon reportedly keeps building up forces for a possible resumption of fighting.
• A similar pattern is playing out in the UK, where a pro-Israel group is reported to have funded Labour Party figures, which is shaping that government's posture toward US politics.

Outlook: Whether the war stays paused now hinges on whether Israel-aligned officials keep pushing for renewed conflict despite the political backlash, with real but fragile diplomatic talks offering a shot at a deal.