Netanyahu to Confront Trump on Iran’s Expanding Missile Program in 7th White House Visit

Tehran, which restarted negotiations with Washington in Oman last week, cautioned on Monday about ‘harmful influences’ affecting the diplomatic process.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will press Donald Trump on Wednesday to take a tougher stance in nuclear talks with Iran. He had earlier visited Washington to confirm the US president’s intentions.

Trump said a day before the hastily arranged White House meeting—scheduled to begin at 11:00 am (1600 GMT)—that he was considering sending a second US “armada” to the Middle East to pressure Tehran to agree to a nuclear deal.

But Netanyahu, who is making his sixth visit to the US since Trump took office, will also urge the US leader to take a tougher stance on arch-enemy Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Tehran, which resumed talks with Washington in Oman last week, warned of a “dangerous impact” on diplomacy ahead of the Israeli prime minister’s visit on Monday.

On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country “will not bow to excessive demands” regarding its nuclear program, although he added that the country does not seek nuclear weapons.

Pezeshkian said, “We do not want to acquire nuclear weapons. We have repeatedly stated this and are ready for any verification.”

Netanyahu was expected to visit Washington for a meeting of Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza on February 19 but reportedly postponed his visit due to the progress of US-Iran talks.

What does Trump think?

On Tuesday night, Netanyahu met with Trump’s Middle East envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in the city.

According to a statement on the Israeli Prime Minister’s X account, they “discussed regional issues, and he provided an update on the first round of talks with Iran last Friday.”

Speaking about hopes for a nuclear deal, Trump warned in an interview with the Axios news outlet on Tuesday that he was “thinking about” sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region.

“Either we’ll make a deal, or we’ll have to take some very drastic action like last time,” Trump said. “We have an armada going there, and another one may be going.”

Trump, who ordered US strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-Day War with Iran last June, separately told Fox Business that any deal should include “no nuclear weapons, no missiles.”

He said Iran’s leaders “want to make a deal,” but “it has to be a good deal,” and added that Tehran “has been very dishonest with us for the last several years.”

What are Netanyahu’s goals?

Netanyahu, while leaving for Washington, said their talks would “first and foremost” be about the Iran talks, adding that they would also discuss issues in Gaza and other areas.

“I will present my views to the president regarding the principles of negotiation,” he said in a video statement. Netanyahu’s office said he would shed light on Iran’s missile arsenal.

Last year, Iran raised Israel’s concerns during a never-before-seen war when it launched a wave of ballistic missiles and other projectiles into Israeli territory, striking both military and civilian targets.

So far, Iran has refused to expand its talks with the US beyond its nuclear program, although Washington also wants to discuss Tehran’s ballistic missile program and its support for regional groups.

Speaking during a visit to Australia, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he hoped the talks would help fight Iran’s “evil empire.”

What about the West Bank?

This meeting comes at a time of growing international anger over Israel’s efforts to expand its control over the West Bank. Israel has attempted to further strengthen its control by allowing settlers to purchase land directly from Palestinian owners.

Israel’s Security Cabinet approved this move before Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. It is unclear whether Trump will discuss it.

A US official said on Monday that Trump “does not support Israel’s occupation of the West Bank” and wants stability but has refrained from directly criticizing the Israeli government’s actions.

How many meetings?

Wednesday’s meeting will be the seventh meeting between the two leaders on US soil since Trump returned to office in January 2025—five times at the White House and once at the Republican’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The seventh meeting took place in Jerusalem in October, when Trump announced the ceasefire in Gaza.