Washington, D.C. — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to urge a tougher U.S. stance in nuclear talks with Iran, focusing particularly on Tehran’s ballistic missile program.
This will mark Netanyahu’s sixth visit to the United States since Trump returned to office in January 2025. The Israeli premier moved up his trip ahead of a previously scheduled February 19 meeting for Trump’s “Board of Peace” on Gaza, reflecting the urgency of ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations.
Trump Weighs Military Pressure
On the eve of the meeting, Trump said he was considering sending a second U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to pressure Iran into agreeing to a nuclear deal. “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” Trump told Axios.
The president emphasized that any deal with Tehran must involve “no nuclear weapons, no missiles.” He added that while Iran’s leaders “want to make a deal,” they have historically been “very dishonest with us over the years.”
Netanyahu’s Objectives
Netanyahu, speaking before departure for Washington, said the discussions would focus primarily on Iran, with Gaza and other regional issues also on the agenda. “I will present to the president our views regarding the principles for the negotiations,” he stated.
Israel’s concerns stem from last year’s conflict, during which Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory, striking both military and civilian areas. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that he will press Trump to include Iran’s missile program in the scope of U.S.-Iran talks, which Tehran has so far resisted.
West Bank Developments
The meeting comes amid heightened international criticism of Israel’s moves to tighten control over the occupied West Bank, including allowing settlers to purchase land directly from Palestinian owners.
While it is unclear whether Trump will raise the issue with Netanyahu, a U.S. official emphasized that the president “does not support Israel annexing the West Bank” and aims to maintain stability in the region.
Historic U.S.-Israel Meetings
Wednesday’s encounter will be the sixth face-to-face meeting between Trump and Netanyahu on U.S. soil, including five at the White House and one at Mar-a-Lago. A seventh meeting occurred last October in Jerusalem when Trump announced a ceasefire in Gaza.
Analysts say the meeting will test Trump’s approach to Iran, balancing pressure on Tehran with support for Israel, while also navigating the broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
