Washington: US President Donald Trump mentioned he had a “superb assembly” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the White Home, as each leaders targeted on negotiations with Iran and the state of affairs in Gaza.
“I’ve simply completed assembly with Prime Minister Netanyahu, of Israel, and numerous of his Representatives. It was an excellent assembly, the large relationship between our two nations continues,” Trump mentioned on Wednesday (native time)
The Oval Workplace assembly marked Netanyahu’s fifth go to to the White Home since Trump started his second time period.
Trump mentioned no ultimate selections had been taken, however pressured that diplomacy with Tehran ought to proceed.
“There was nothing definitive reached apart from I insisted that negotiations with Iran proceed to see whether or not or not a Deal will be consummated. If it could possibly, I let the Prime Minister know that it will likely be a desire. If it can not, we’ll simply should see what the end result might be.”
Referring to previous tensions, Trump added, “Final time, Iran determined that they had been higher off not making a Deal, and so they had been hit with Midnight Hammer — That didn’t work nicely for them. Hopefully, this time they are going to be extra cheap and accountable.”
He additionally mentioned the 2 leaders mentioned Gaza and broader regional developments. “Moreover, we mentioned the large progress being made in Gaza and the Area normally. There’s actually PEACE within the Center East.”
Netanyahu had indicated earlier than departing Israel that Iran would high the agenda. “On this journey, we’ll focus on a sequence of points: Gaza, the area, however at the start, the negotiations with Iran.”
He mentioned he would define Israel’s place to the US President. “I’ll current to the President our outlook concerning the ideas of those negotiations — the important ideas, which, for my part, are necessary not solely to Israel, however to everybody all over the world who needs peace and safety within the Center East.”
In a previous assertion, his workplace mentioned: “The Prime Minister believes any negotiations should embrace limitations on ballistic missiles and a halting of the assist for the Iranian axis.”
The go to comes after US officers held oblique talks with Iranian negotiators in Oman final week aimed toward reaching a nuclear settlement. Trump informed Israel’s Channel 12: “The Iranians actually wish to make a deal. Both we make a deal, or we’ve got to do one thing very powerful like final time.”
In response to US officers, further negotiations are anticipated this week. Tehran has mentioned it is not going to negotiate past its nuclear actions and won’t relinquish its proper to complement uranium.
The assembly additionally comes forward of the primary session of the newly shaped Board of Peace, scheduled for February 19, which is meant to supervise a reconstruction plan for Gaza.
The Trump administration brokered a ceasefire that took impact on October 10, 2025, beneath a 20-point peace plan agreed on by Israel and Hamas.
Netanyahu, 76, has served a number of phrases as Israel’s prime minister and leads a coalition authorities. He has lengthy maintained that any settlement with Iran should tackle not solely its nuclear programme but in addition its regional actions, a place that has formed Israeli coverage throughout successive US administrations.
