Netanyahu Meets Trump Envoys in Washington, Discusses Iran Talks and Missile Restrictions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Steve Witkoff, special envoy of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, during a visit to Washington.
The discussions covered regional issues and the latest talks with Iran. Netanyahu is expected to press for the inclusion of missile restrictions in any potential agreement with Iran during his upcoming meeting with Trump at the White House.
Meanwhile, U.S. forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military facility in the Middle East, have deployed Patriot missiles on mobile launchers to allow for quicker relocation and deployment.
The number of U.S. aircraft and military equipment has also increased at bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Diego Garcia.
In an interview, Trump stated he believes Iran wants to reach a deal on its nuclear and missile programs, adding, “I think they want to reach a deal, and if they don’t, it would be foolish. Last time we targeted their nuclear facilities, and we will see what happens this time.”
Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, announced during a visit to Oman that he discussed with Omani officials the possibility of a “balanced and fair” agreement with the United States. Larijani emphasized, “From the beginning, we believed that war does not solve problems and that regional disputes should be resolved through dialogue. Relying on force has complicated the path of diplomacy.”
Iran has stated that following last year’s 12-day attacks by Israel and the United States, it has rebuilt its missile stockpiles and that this program is not negotiable.
No date or venue has been announced for the next round of talks between Tehran and Washington.
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