Trump Netanyahu Meeting: Washington’s Message to Tehran on Negotiations

Trump Netanyahu Meeting: Israel Prioritizes Security Demands

U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House that lasted approximately three hours, describing it as a “very good meeting.”

Trump reaffirmed the continuation of the “special relationship” between the United States and Israel, stressing the need to continue negotiations with Iran to determine whether an agreement could be reached. He said that such an outcome would be the preferred option if possible.

Washington’s Message to Tehran

Trump stated that the last time Iran declined to reach an agreement, it was subjected to what became known as “Operation Midnight Hammer,” which he said was not in its interest. He added, “We hope that this time Tehran will be more rational and responsible.” Trump also noted that the meeting addressed what he described as “significant progress in Gaza and the region more broadly,” stating that “there is real peace coming to the Middle East,” while confirming that no final agreement was reached during the talks.

Israeli Emphasis on Security Demands

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated that Netanyahu insisted during the meeting on Israel’s security requirements related to the negotiations with Iran, reaffirming continued coordination between the two countries regarding regional security challenges. The meeting marked the seventh encounter between Trump and Netanyahu since the U.S. president returned to office. Their previous meeting was held at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in late January.

The talks came days after negotiations between Iran and the United States took place in Oman, following which Trump announced that a second round of discussions would be held soon. In the same context, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country is prepared for any verification process to confirm the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, reiterating that Iran does not seek to possess nuclear weapons, while emphasizing that it “will not yield to excessive demands.”

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