Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to the United States to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House. This visit is aimed at impacting the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran concerning Iran's nuclear program.
According to Anadolu Agency, the visit was originally scheduled for February 18 but was advanced to allow Netanyahu to participate in influencing the negotiations as the US continues discussions with Iran. This marks the seventh meeting between Trump and Netanyahu since the beginning of Trump's second term, with most meetings occurring in the US.
Israel is pushing for the Oman-mediated talks to address more than just Iran's nuclear program. It seeks a complete halt to uranium enrichment, limitations on Tehran's missile program, and an end to its support for regional allies. However, after the first round of US-Iran talks in Oman, Israeli officials remain skeptical of Trump's commitment to these demands, which were communicated to US envoy Steve Witkoff during his visit to Israel.
Israeli publication Maariv highlighted a significant level of uncertainty in Israel regarding the direction of Trump's policy on Iran. Israel perceives the current moment as a rare opportunity for the US to pressure Iran, emphasizing concerns that the US might not follow through completely or not initiate the process at all. Such outcomes could potentially embolden Iran, allowing it to strengthen its regional influence.
Israel has expressed its readiness for any scenario and has drawn a firm line concerning Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. Reports suggest Iran possesses a substantial arsenal of missiles, and any increase could prompt decisive action from Israel, a point Netanyahu intends to stress in Washington.
According to Israel's public broadcaster KAN, Netanyahu aims to influence the US-Iran talks, stressing the importance of addressing Iran's missile program and support for proxy groups beyond the nuclear issue. The final makeup of the Israeli delegation traveling with Netanyahu is still being determined, with potential inclusion of military officials.
Yedioth Ahronoth, another Israeli newspaper, reported that Netanyahu's expedited visit seeks to limit US concessions to Iran and prevent prolonged negotiations that might enhance Iran's military capabilities. The paper noted Iran's resistance to compromise and the US's apparent willingness to make concessions, potentially leading to an agreement that could indirectly support the Iranian regime.
The newspaper warned that such an agreement might limit Israel's ability to counter Iranian threats independently and could result in a direct conflict between Netanyahu and Trump. Netanyahu's visit aims to preemptively influence Trump, urging him to prioritize restrictions on Iran's missile capabilities, as Iran accelerates its missile development in the absence of nuclear weapons.
The Israeli perspective, as reported, is that any agreement that fails to address Iranian ballistic missiles would be highly problematic. There is concern that lifting sanctions could enable Iran to resume oil and gas exports, alleviating its internal economic pressures.