Photo: Alamy
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 11, to discuss U.S. negotiations with Iran following recent indirect nuclear talks, according to Netanyahu’s office.
The meeting comes after Iranian and U.S. officials held indirect discussions Friday in Oman aimed at restarting diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear program. Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister intends to raise concerns about Iran’s broader military capabilities and regional activities.
“The prime minister believes that all negotiations must include limiting the ballistic missiles, and ending support for the Iranian axis,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, referring to Tehran’s backing of militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. President Trump and Netanyahu last met in December.
Officials on both sides described Friday’s talks in Oman as a step toward further negotiations. President Trump said the United States had “very good” discussions and that additional talks were planned for early next week. The U.S. delegation included Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law.
Gulf Arab nations have voiced concern that any escalation could trigger a wider regional conflict, particularly after a 12-day Israel-Iran war in June.
For the first time in talks with Iran, the United States also involved its top military commander in the Middle East. Brad Cooper, head of United States Central Command, participated in discussions and later visited the USS Abraham Lincoln with Witkoff and Kushner, the command said.
U.S. officials have said negotiations should go beyond Iran’s nuclear activities to include missile development and support for militant groups. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that all of those issues must be addressed.
Israel, a close U.S. ally, believes Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon and wants its program dismantled. Iran maintains its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.
The renewed diplomacy comes as the U.S. government continues to warn Americans against traveling to Iran and urges U.S. citizens there to leave, while American military forces remain deployed across the region.