U.S. President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, as rising tensions in the Middle East and renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme dominate the agenda.
Netanyahu is expected to press for a deal that would halt Iran’s uranium enrichment and curb its support for proxy groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Speaking before departing for Washington, the Israeli leader said he would present Israel’s position on the principles guiding any negotiations.
“I will present to the president our outlook regarding the principles of these negotiations,” Netanyahu told reporters. His office added that Israel wants any agreement to also address Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its backing of regional allies.
Tehran has maintained that it will not scale back uranium enrichment unless Western countries ease sanctions that have severely impacted its economy. The standoff has complicated diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities.
Netanyahu’s visit marks his sixth trip to the United States since Trump returned to office, more than any other world leader. A longstanding ally of the U.S. president, Netanyahu has consistently described Iran as an existential threat to Israel and has urged Washington to confront Tehran’s regional influence.
The meeting comes as the United States increases its military presence in the Middle East. On Tuesday, Trump said he was considering deploying a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
“We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” Trump told Axios, adding that Iran “wants to make a deal very badly” and that diplomacy remains possible. The USS Abraham Lincoln was dispatched to the region last month amid heightened tensions.
Israeli officials have also indicated that Israel reserves the right to take unilateral military action if a satisfactory nuclear agreement is not reached. Netanyahu faces pressure from members of his far-right coalition to secure a comprehensive deal that addresses Israel’s security concerns.
Analysts say Israel fears that Washington could prioritise reaching an agreement over the substance of its terms. “Israel is concerned that in the haste to get a deal with Iran, the president might embrace a deal that doesn’t address Iran’s missile programme or support for proxy groups,” said Dan Byman, a professor at Georgetown University.
Others argue that Iran may be negotiating from a weaker position following internal unrest and last year’s joint U.S.-Israeli air campaign. “The Iranian regime today is really vulnerable,” said Mohammed Hafez of the Naval Postgraduate School, noting that both Washington and Jerusalem believe they currently hold strategic leverage.
