Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this Wednesday to discuss American negotiations with Iran, as announced by Netanyahu’s office on Saturday. The discussions come following a day of threats from Iran’s foreign minister aimed at U.S. military bases in the region.
In a statement, Netanyahu emphasized that he believes all negotiations should prioritize limiting Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and ending Tehran's support for militant groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories. This meeting marks the first time Trump and Netanyahu will convene since December.
Meanwhile, there has been no immediate comment from the White House regarding the upcoming meeting. Previous indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran took place on Friday in Oman, where discussions appeared to revert to the initial stages concerning Iran’s nuclear program. President Trump characterized the talks as “very good” and indicated that further negotiations are scheduled for the upcoming week. U.S. representation included Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.
Trump has consistently threatened military action to pressure Iran into agreeing to a deal concerning its nuclear program. This follows the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and additional warships to the region amidst tensions surrounding Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests that have reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths. Gulf Arab nations are apprehensive that any military action could lead to a broader regional conflict, reminiscent of the brief Israel-Iran war that occurred in June.
Significantly, a top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, took part in the recent negotiations with Iran for the first time. Following these discussions, he visited the USS Abraham Lincoln alongside Witkoff and Kushner, according to a statement from the military command.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed journalists on Friday, insisting that any nuclear discussions must occur in a peaceful environment without tension or threats. He noted that diplomats would return to their respective capitals, indicating that the latest round of talks had concluded. On Saturday, he elaborated in an interview with Al Jazeera that should the U.S. launch an attack against Iran, the country lacks the capability for a direct strike. Instead, he warned that Iran would have to retaliate against U.S. bases situated in the region.
Araghchi expressed concerns about a "very, very deep distrust" stemming from prior negotiations, particularly following the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites during last year’s Israel-Iran conflict. He firmly stated that issues related to Iran’s missile program and defense matters are not negotiable, neither now nor in the future. Tehran continues to assert that current negotiations will exclusively focus on its nuclear program.
Interestingly, Al Jazeera reported that diplomats from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar proposed a plan to Iran that could involve halting uranium enrichment for three years, transferring its enriched uranium out of the country, and agreeing not to initiate the use of ballistic missiles. In contrast, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the necessity for negotiations to address all issues, including those raised by Israel, a steadfast American ally that accuses Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons and endorses a complete dismantlement of its nuclear program.
Araghchi, during a forum in Qatar on Saturday, accused Israel of destabilizing the region and conducting various aggressive acts, including breaching sovereignties and orchestrating targeted assassinations. He also criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and called for comprehensive sanctions against Israel, advocating for an immediate arms embargo.
