Netanyahu urges Trump to widen Iran talks beyond nuclear issue

15:02

By: Dakir Madiha

Netanyahu urges Trump to widen Iran talks beyond nuclear issue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, pressing for a tougher US stance that extends beyond Iran’s nuclear program to include its ballistic missile capabilities and regional activities. The visit comes days after Washington resumed direct talks with Tehran for the first time since last year’s 12 day conflict.

Netanyahu’s trip marks his seventh face to face meeting with Trump since the US president took office in January 2025 and his sixth visit to the United States during that period. The Israeli leader moved up the trip, originally scheduled for February 18 and 19, following nuclear discussions between US and Iranian officials held in Muscat, Oman, on February 6.

Before departing Israel, Netanyahu said he intended to outline what he described as essential principles for any future agreement with Iran. He said these principles were critical not only for Israel but for broader peace and security in the Middle East. Israeli officials have signaled concern that Washington could pursue a limited nuclear deal that leaves Tehran’s missile program and its support for allied militant groups untouched.

While Trump has focused on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Israeli officials argue that the more immediate threat lies in Tehran’s efforts to rebuild its ballistic missile arsenal following Israeli airstrikes in June last year. Netanyahu’s office said any negotiations must include restrictions on ballistic missiles and an end to what it called Iran’s backing of regional allies such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Upon arriving in Washington on Tuesday evening, Netanyahu met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who led the American delegation during the Oman talks. The discussions underscored the gap between Israeli and US priorities as diplomacy with Tehran resumes.

Trump has paired diplomatic outreach with renewed military signaling. In an interview with Axios on Tuesday, he said he was considering deploying a second carrier strike group to the Middle East if negotiations fail. The USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying strike group are already positioned in the region. Trump said the United States would either secure an agreement or take decisive action, referencing prior US military operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities during last year’s conflict.

The president expressed cautious optimism, saying Iran appeared eager to reach a deal following the hostilities of the previous year. At the same time, he warned that failure to finalize an agreement would carry serious consequences. Speaking after the Oman talks, Trump said the repercussions would be significant if diplomacy collapses.

Sticking points remain. Iran has insisted that negotiations focus exclusively on its nuclear program and has maintained what it describes as its right to enrich uranium. Washington opposes unrestricted enrichment, and senior US officials have voiced doubts about Tehran’s willingness to compromise. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week he was uncertain whether an agreement could be achieved under current conditions.

Another round of US Iran talks is expected early next week. Meanwhile, Iran’s senior security official Ali Larijani traveled to Oman and Qatar, moves that may reflect efforts to convey Tehran’s position to regional mediators as both sides weigh the risks of confrontation against the prospects for a narrower or broader deal.