{"id":722,"date":"2026-02-09T12:08:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T12:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/?p=722"},"modified":"2026-02-09T12:08:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T12:08:33","slug":"israels-netanyahu-seeks-to-shape-us-iran-talks-in-accelerated-washington-visit-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/09\/israels-netanyahu-seeks-to-shape-us-iran-talks-in-accelerated-washington-visit-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel\u2019s Netanyahu seeks to \u2018shape\u2019 US-Iran talks in accelerated Washington visit: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Israeli media says prime minister aims to press Trump to limit concessions to Tehran amid uncertainty over US strategy <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>By Abdel Ra’ouf Arnaout<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JERUSALEM \/ ISTANBUL (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to head to the United States on Tuesday to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House, in a trip seen as aiming to influence the ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran on Iran\u2019s nuclear program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit was initially set for February 18, but was moved up by about a week to allow Netanyahu to weigh in as Washington continues talks with Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will be the seventh meeting between Trump and Netanyahu since the start of the US president\u2019s second term early last year. Five of their meetings were held in the US and one in Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel wants the Oman-mediated negotiations to go beyond Iran\u2019s nuclear program and include a complete halt to uranium enrichment, restrictions on Tehran\u2019s missile program and an end to its support for regional allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, following the first round of US-Iran talks held Friday in Oman, Israeli officials appear unconvinced that Trump is committed to Israel\u2019s demands, which Tel Aviv conveyed last week to US envoy Steve Witkoff during his visit to Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is \u201ca state of deep uncertainty in Israel regarding the direction the American president is taking on the Iranian issue,\u201d Maariv newspaper said on Monday.
\u201cSo far, no one in Israel knows where President Donald Trump is headed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel believes \u201cthe current opportunity, with Americans mobilizing large forces capable of defeating Iran one way or another, is a once-in-50-years event, perhaps even rarer,\u201d the daily said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe biggest concern in Israel right now is that the Americans will start the process but will not complete it,\u201d the paper said. \u201cThis scenario is no less troubling than the possibility that the Americans will not start the process at all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According Maariv, such an outcome could leave Iran feeling stronger after surviving US and Israeli pressure, enabling Tehran to impose a regional agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel has made clear to Washington that it is \u201cprepared for any scenario\u201d and has drawn a red line on Iran\u2019s ballistic missile capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo far, the Iranians possess about 1 800 missiles and perhaps several dozen launchers, between 60 and 80,\u201d the paper claimed. \u201cOnce that number rises significantly, Israel will have to make a decision, and Netanyahu intends to clarify this in Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIsrael has done this at least twice over the past two years and can do it again,\u201d the paper added. \u201cThe ball is now in the White House. The decision lies with the president of the United States. What will he decide? At the moment, no one truly knows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israeli influence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel\u2019s public broadcaster KAN said Netanyahu wants the meeting with Trump to \u201cinfluence the course of the talks underway between the United States and Iran,\u201d amid Israeli concerns that any potential understandings may be limited to the nuclear file alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KAN, citing Netanyahu\u2019s office, said \u201cthe prime minister believes any negotiations must include restrictions on the ballistic missile program, in addition to halting support for the Iranian axis,\u201d especially with another round of talks approaching early this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It said the final composition of the Israeli delegation traveling Tuesday has not yet been determined, with the possible participation of Israeli military officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that Netanyahu\u2019s urgent visit aims to pressure Trump \u201cto limit concessions to Iran and avoid prolonged negotiations that could enhance Tehran\u2019s missile and nuclear capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom statements issued by both sides following the preliminary US-Iran talks held in Oman on Friday, it was clear that Iran is showing strong resistance to backing down from its positions,\u201d the paper said. \u201cThe United States, meanwhile, appeared willing to make concessions toward a nuclear agreement that lifts sanctions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such an agreement, the newspaper warned, \u201cwould indirectly help the Iranian regime survive and recover, thereby threatening its surroundings once again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe worst-case scenario,\u201d the paper added, is that \u201ca US-Iran agreement could constrain Israel and limit its ability to independently confront Iranian nuclear and missile threats, or lead to a direct confrontation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yedioth Ahronoth said Netanyahu advanced the visit for two main reasons: \u201cFirst, to convince Trump in advance to narrow the scope of concessions that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may agree to with the Iranians,\u201d and second, Iran\u2019s rapid rebuilding of its ballistic missile and drone capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the daily, Iran now views ballistic missiles as its primary deterrent in the absence of nuclear weapons and is accelerating missile development, production and launch systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump \u201crepeatedly refers only to the Iranian nuclear program and avoids mentioning missiles or proxies,\u201d fueling Israeli concerns that Washington could accept a nuclear-only agreement that the US president could present as a major achievement, claiming it is better than the 2015 deal reached under the Obama administration, the paper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom Israel\u2019s perspective, any agreement that does not restrict the range of Iranian ballistic missiles would be extremely problematic,\u201d it said, warning that lifting sanctions would allow Iran to resume oil and gas exports and ease internal economic pressure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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