President Donald Trump will welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Wednesday, with Iran expected to dominate discussions as Washington weighs the next steps in its diplomacy with Tehran.
The meeting follows nuclear negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials in Oman last week. Both sides described the talks as constructive, with further discussions anticipated. However, the prospect of a limited nuclear agreement has raised concerns in Israel.
Netanyahu, making his seventh visit to Washington since Trump returned to office 13 months ago, is expected to press for broader terms in any deal with Iran, including restrictions on Tehran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for armed proxy groups across the region.
Missile Programme and Military Threats
Trump has publicly warned that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails. In interviews on Tuesday, he said that while he believed Iran was inclined towards reaching an agreement, the United States would respond firmly if talks collapsed.
Speaking to Fox Business, Trump said a satisfactory deal would ensure “no nuclear weapons, no missiles”, though he provided no further details. He also indicated that he was considering deploying a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region as part of a wider military build-up near Iran.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear activities are peaceful and has ruled out curbs on its missile arsenal. Tehran has insisted that discussions in Oman were confined strictly to nuclear matters.
Gaza Ceasefire Also on Agenda
The conflict in Gaza is also expected to feature prominently in the talks. Trump has been seeking to advance a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending hostilities and facilitating reconstruction in the Palestinian territory.
Progress on a proposed 20-point plan has stalled, with significant differences remaining over key provisions, including the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas.
Netanyahu’s visit was originally scheduled for later in the month but was brought forward amid renewed U.S. engagement with Iran. The White House has said it continues to work closely with Israel to strengthen regional security.
Strategic Calculations on Both Sides
While Washington and Tel Aviv remain close allies, differences could emerge over the scope of any agreement with Iran. Israel fears that a narrow nuclear deal could allow Tehran to rebuild its missile capabilities and continue supporting regional militias.
At the same time, Trump has reiterated opposition to Israeli annexation moves in the occupied West Bank, an issue that has drawn international criticism and could complicate bilateral discussions.
With tensions across the Middle East still high, Wednesday’s meeting is expected to shape the direction of U.S.–Iran diplomacy and broader regional security calculations in the weeks ahead.
(with inputs from Reuters)
