Middle East: Netanyahu meets Trump – for a tough line in Iran talks | EUROtoday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will press his nation’s calls for on a potential US take care of Iran at a gathering with US President Donald Trump in Washington as we speak. “I will present to the president our views on the principles of these negotiations,” Netanyahu mentioned earlier than his departure. Shortly earlier than, he had made it clear that any negotiations between the US and Iran should embrace each a restrict on ballistic missiles and an finish to help for Iran’s allies within the area.

Israel sees Iran’s nuclear and missile applications as its biggest existential risk. Representatives of the USA and Iran started talks in Oman’s capital Muscat on Friday. A date for a potential sequel has not but been set. Iran has repeatedly said that it solely desires to barter its nuclear program, however not its missiles.

The Israeli Kan station reported that Netanyahu had avoided taking navy representatives to Washington to keep away from accusations that Israel was attempting to push the US into battle. The assembly with Trump takes place behind closed doorways. Washington has determined that no statements will likely be made beforehand nor will a press convention be held afterwards, the broadcaster reported. This might point out that Trump desires to keep away from making variations of opinion public.

Trump: Netanyahu additionally desires an settlement

One of the principle messages Netanyahu will ship to Trump is that negotiations with Iran are nugatory, the Wall Street Journal quoted Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen as saying. “Iran has not fulfilled any of its obligations,” Cohen advised Israeli Army Radio.

Trump, nonetheless, advised the US information portal “Axios” that he didn’t imagine that Netanyahu was nervous in regards to the negotiations between the USA and Iran. “He also wants an agreement. He wants a good agreement,” mentioned Trump. The assembly between him and Netanyahu on the White House – the seventh since Trump took workplace – is scheduled for 11 a.m. native time (5 p.m. CET).

According to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot, Netanyahu desires to share present intelligence details about Iran’s missile program with Trump, amongst different issues. Netanyahu may also warn Trump that Tehran is creating long-range missiles that may hit the United States.

The negotiations between the USA and Iran observe the mass protests within the Islamic Republic, which the state safety equipment brutally suppressed. Trump then threatened Tehran with navy intervention and strengthened the US navy presence within the area, together with with the plane provider “USS Abraham Lincoln”.

Trump is contemplating sending extra fleet to Iran

Trump is now contemplating sending one other plane provider to the area. “We have a fleet on the way and another could follow,” he advised Axios. And additional: “Either there will be a deal or we will have to take very tough measures like last time.”

In June 2025, Israel waged battle towards its arch-enemy for twelve days and, along with the USA, bombed Iranian nuclear services. In addition, over the previous two years, Israel has severely weakened Iran’s allies such because the Islamist Hamas within the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Netanyahu is nervous that Trump may conform to a deal that lets Iran “off the hook,” the Wall Street Journal quoted Israel’s former ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, as saying. “This military victory could be wiped out if Iran is granted sanctions relief and becomes a major regional threat again, armed with ballistic missiles and supporting terror,” Oren mentioned.

Before Netanyahu’s departure to Washington, the Secretary General of the Iranian Security Council, Ali Larijani, wrote on the web platform

According to the Israeli information portal “ynet”, Israel’s Energy Minister Cohen lately made it clear that “even in the event of an agreement, if a threat develops against Israel and we are forced to do so, we will act.” A navy confrontation would then be potential. An settlement has no worth – only a “regime change”.

Gaza peace course of additionally on the agenda

In addition to the talks between the USA and Iran, Netanyahu says he may also focus on the scenario within the Gaza Strip on the assembly with Trump. The second part of the ceasefire settlement offers, amongst different issues, for the disarmament of the Islamist terrorist group Hamas.

The “New York Times” now reported on a draft plan in accordance with which the USA might, at the very least initially, permit Hamas to maintain small arms. However, Hamas must hand over weapons that can be utilized to assault Israel, folks aware of the proposal have been quoted as saying.

A U.S.-led staff that included Trump’s son-in-law Kushner and Witkoff deliberate to current the doc to Hamas within the subsequent few weeks, it mentioned. However, particulars might nonetheless be modified and different drafts might presumably be submitted, it mentioned.

Israel insists on demilitarizing Gaza

Israel is unlikely to withdraw its troops from Gaza earlier than Hamas and different militant teams lay down their arms. Israel additionally considers Hamas’ in depth tunnel system within the Gaza Strip to be a part of the Islamists’ navy infrastructure. According to Israeli media stories, Israel’s military can also be getting ready to renew the battle within the Gaza Strip if Hamas continues to refuse to disarm.

Without demilitarization, it will likely be tough for Trump’s “Peace Council” to implement the subsequent steps of his 20-point plan, wrote the New York Times. According to US media stories, the “Peace Council” based by Trump in Davos in January to resolve world conflicts is scheduled to fulfill for the primary time in Washington on February nineteenth. This needs to be about implementing the second part of the peace course of and elevating cash for the reconstruction of the coastal strip that was largely destroyed by the battle.

The “Peace Council” is seen by many European states, together with Germany, as competitors to the United Nations and is due to this fact rejected. Contrary to what was initially anticipated, this isn’t a physique devoted completely to monitoring the Gaza peace course of.