Washington (TDI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to urge US President Donald Trump to adopt a firmer position in ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran during their meeting at the White House on Wednesday.
The talks, scheduled for 11:00am local time (1600 GMT), come amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran. Netanyahu reportedly advanced his Washington visit as discussions between the United States and Iran resumed last week in Oman.
On the eve of the meeting, Trump signalled that he was considering deploying a second US naval strike group to the Middle East as a means of increasing pressure on Tehran. In remarks, he said Washington could either reach a deal or take “very tough” measures similar to past actions. The US president has previously ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during last year’s brief but intense conflict between Israel and Iran.
In a separate interview with Fox Business, Trump stated that any agreement would need to ensure “no nuclear weapons, no missiles,” adding that while Iran appeared willing to negotiate, the outcome must be a “good deal.”
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Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu said discussions would focus “first and foremost” on Iran. He indicated that he would present Israel’s perspective on the principles guiding negotiations and emphasize concerns over Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities.
Israel has long viewed Iran’s missile arsenal as a direct security threat. During last year’s 12-day conflict, Iran launched multiple waves of ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory, targeting military sites and other locations.
While Washington has signalled interest in addressing both nuclear and missile issues, Tehran has consistently maintained that talks should be limited strictly to its nuclear program and sanctions relief.
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Earlier this week, Iran’s foreign ministry warned against what it described as “destructive influences” on diplomacy, an apparent reference to Israel’s efforts to shape US policy.
