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3. Trump Hosts Netanyahu at White House, Says U.S. to Continue Iran Nuclear Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said, following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, that he did not reach any agreement with Netanyahu, but insisted on negotiations and told him that negotiating with Iran is currently the preferred option.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday to discuss security issues related to Iran and Gaza as tensions in the Middle East persist. 

Trump told Netanyahu that he prefers to continue pursuing a diplomatic path with Iran, but will “just have to see what the outcome will be.”

In a post on Truth Social on his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump wrote that “there was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated.”

The closed-door meeting at the White House with Netanyahu lasted three hours, and marked his seventh set of meetings with Trump since January 2025. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after his meeting with President Trump at the White House on Wednesday that any agreement with Iran must prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. During the meeting, Netanyahu stressed that “any agreement with Iran must have no expiration date.”

For its part, Israel’s public broadcaster revealed that the option of striking Iran was not ruled out during the Netanyahu–Trump meeting, noting that Netanyahu wants to preserve freedom of action against Iran, even if acting alone.

Israel is concerned over Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and its continued support for Hamas and Hezbollah, urging these subjects be included in a deal alongside the nuclear issue, according to Reuters. In preparation for his visit to the U.S., Netanyahu expressed that he is determined to ensure that each of the three issues are incorporated into a nuclear deal.

On Tuesday, Trump explored the idea of sending a second aircraft carrier towards the Middle East if talks fail, as military buildup and threats continue to paint the backdrop of diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran. 

Another round of U.S.-Iran talks is expected to occur later this month after last Friday’s dialogue in Oman, which was described as a “positive atmosphere” by Iranian officials, despite U.S. officials continuing to maintain a military backup plan.

Speaking to Axios, Trump threatened that the U.S. will “have to do something very tough like last time” if the two countries are unable to agree to a deal, referencing the direct strikes the U.S. carried out on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.

Tehran continues to characterize the inclusion of curbing Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and support for its proxies as an “excessive” demand, which President Mazoud Pezeshkian stated that the country will not yield to, in a speech on Wednesday marking the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Iran insists that resumed talks remain focused on the nuclear issue.

Iran’s priority in nuclear negotiations is to receive the sanctions relief that would ease economic pressure against the regime’s officials while retaining as much of its security apparatus as possible. While Trump demands that Iran ban its enrichment capabilities, Ali Larijani, secretary to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated that Tehran will not agree to a complete overhaul of the nuclear program due to energy needs.

The second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal was also on the agenda, as approaches towards disarming Hamas are being weighed. Immediately prior to his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu signed a document including Israel’s participation in Trump’s “Board of Peace.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani spoke with Trump on the phone to push for achieving a resolution with Iran through dialogue and diplomatic means, expressing a shared interest to enhance regional security while reducing escalation.

Netanyahu’s White House visit also occurred amidst tightening Israeli control in the West Bank as Israel modified property laws that make land purchases easier, prompting fears that annexation may be drawing closer.