US President Donald Trump stated he insisted talks with Iran continue during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning of taking action against Tehran if a nuclear agreement is not reached.
The leaders convened at the White House as Middle Eastern tensions escalate and negotiations intensify over limiting Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Netanyahu pressed for a deal that would cease Iran's uranium enrichment, restrict its ballistic missiles, and terminate its support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Despite Iran's readiness to constrain its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, it has dismissed additional demands from the U.S.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, ahead of the meeting, firmly stated that Iran would not yield to what he called excessive demands from the U.S.
This meeting marks Netanyahu's sixth visit to the U.S. since Trump took office, reflecting a deepening connection between the two leaders.
During the nearly three-hour discussion, which bore a low-key nature, Trump remarked on the outcome stating, There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated. He emphasized that a preferable outcome would be a deal, but implied readiness for alternative actions if necessary.
Netanyahu’s office added the discussions included Israel's security needs within the context of these negotiations, asserting their cooperative relationship.
In a broader perspective, Tehran’s capacity to negotiate may be influenced by the current weakened position of its leaders following enormous civil unrest and external military pressures, particularly after recent air campaigns against Iranian facilities.
