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President Trump’s seventh meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded this week amid rising tensions with Iran, drawing questions about the future of U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
“There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated,” President Trump said in a statement on Truth Social. “If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be.”
Iran’s domestic economic collapse has fueled the internal anti-regime revolution and ongoing violence in the streets. This also comes amid increasing pressure from the U.S. for Iran to totally denuclearize in the wake of Operation Midnight Hammer last year, which reportedly damaged Iranian nuclear sites.
“Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer — That did not work well for them. Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible,” President Trump stated.
As reported by RSBN, the United States is ready to meet with Iranian representatives if they are interested in sitting down. “If the Iranians want to meet, we’re ready…I’m not sure you can reach a deal with these guys, but we’re going to try to find out…This is a president that always prefers a peaceful outcome to any conflict or any challenge,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in early February.
Prime Minister Netanyahu told reporters just before departing Washington, D.C., on Thursday that his talks with President Trump were “short but important” this week. He expressed skepticism over any potential deal with Iran, and said on X that if it can be achieved, “it must include the elements that are very important from our perspective, from Israel’s perspective, and in my opinion not only Israel’s.”
It’s unclear what the prime minister would like to see specifically, but he alluded to denuclearizing Iran and targeting Iranian proxies.
“The President believes the Iranians have already learned who they are dealing with,” the prime minister explained on X. “I believe that the conditions he is creating, combined with the fact that they certainly understand they made a mistake the last time by not reaching an agreement, may create the conditions for achieving a good agreement.”
