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Trump-Netanyahu talks
U.S. President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday for their first in-person talks since the Iran war began, with Netanyahu saying they discussed ensuring Tehran does not acquire nuclear arms.
“US President Donald Trump says Washington is engaged in “very friendly negotiations” with Iran after pausing military strikes last week, raising hopes that weeks of escalating attacks could give way to renewed diplomacy”
The closed-door talks, which the White House described as “positive and productive,” lasted for about an hour and a half, as Netanyahu and Trump sought to patch over public disagreements on the war.
Netanyahu said in a video message after the meeting that it was “one of the best conversations I’ve ever had with the president of the United States” and that it touched on “our common goal: ensuring that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.”
The meeting came as the Iran war began in late February with US-Israeli strikes and as Washington said it wants to give negotiations a chance during a recent pause in fighting.
Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the primary aim of the visit was to dispel reports of a cooling in ties between the allies, telling AFP, “I think that the main issue… is to show the world, to show Iran.”
Optimism, denials, threats
On Monday, Trump expressed optimism about a negotiated peace deal with Iran as both sides observed a third consecutive day without fighting, saying aboard Air Force One, “I think there is a good chance that something could happen”.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei denied any direct negotiations, stating, “At present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States”.
Trump also reiterated threats to resume military action if diplomacy fails, warning in Michigan that if diplomacy fails, “we go back to doing what we were doing”.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he wanted to avoid targeting Iran's bridges and power plants if possible, telling “We cannot have them break deals anymore.”
Trump said the immediate diplomatic effort is focused on an interim arrangement intended to restore safe commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with Oman leading mediation and Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan also playing roles.
Strait of Hormuz stakes
As talks moved forward, the Strait of Hormuz remained central to the dispute, with Trump and Netanyahu’s meeting expected to address the Iranian nuclear threat and the administration’s military actions.
“Trump threatens to destroy Mount Axe in Iran if no deal is reached”
CBS News reported that talks between Oman and Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and their respective territorial waterways made progress, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard turned back six vessels trying to transit through routes not approved by Iranian authorities.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said mediators may convey messages from the American side but that there were no direct negotiations, adding, “mediators may convey messages to us from the American side”.
Baghaei also said Iran and Oman had held talks on Friday and Saturday on how to manage ship traffic through the waterway, describing the objective as “to develop mechanisms to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz”.
The conflict’s maritime stakes were underscored by the U.S. military’s blockade posture, with the AP report saying its recently reimposed naval blockade against Iran continued with a dozen commercial ships redirected, two disabled and two boarded.
