Trump and Netanyahu Meet at White House Amid Iran Nuclear Talks and Regional Tensions

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House in Washington to discuss ongoing issues including Iran, Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program, and Israel-Lebanon negotiations. The meeting took place ahead of their joint attendance at the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. No joint statement was expected following the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Trump gave a Fox News interview addressing Iran, downplaying the threat posed by the Fordow nuclear facility and emphasizing his knowledge of the situation. He stated he preferred to avoid military strikes on Iranian infrastructure but warned Iran that the U.S. could disable their power plants and bridges quickly if agreements were broken. Trump cited the killing of Qassem Soleimani and subsequent actions as having set back Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Netanyahu arrived in Washington early Tuesday with his delegation and planned to present Trump with intelligence indicating that Iran continues to build a nuclear site at Fordow despite negotiations. Sources revealed Netanyahu had worked for weeks to secure the White House meeting, which Trump initially opposed, with some White House officials frustrated by leaks related to the effort. Trump acknowledged some policy differences with Netanyahu but said their views on Iran were largely aligned.

Trump also commented on ongoing talks with Iran, saying Tehran had sought dialogue both directly and through intermediaries, describing the discussions as positive but warning that failure to reach an agreement would lead to renewed U.S. military action. On other matters, Trump defended the F-35 sale to Turkey, calling it a good ally. Netanyahu described the meeting as his eighth with Trump since the president’s second term began, underscoring the importance of their cooperation on security and peace efforts. He also expressed his intention to honor Senator Graham, a longtime friend of Israel, at the funeral.

The meeting highlights the continued U.S.-Israel coordination on Iran’s nuclear program and regional security amid complex diplomatic developments involving Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.