NewzUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Trump at the White House to address military and diplomatic priorities amid their respective conflicts. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (centre) attends the funeral services for the late US Senator Lindsey Graham during his visit to Washington. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House Tuesday for his first in-person talks with president Donald Trump since the Iran war began, with the Israeli leader saying they discussed ensuring Tehran does not acquire nuclear arms.The closed-door talks -- which the White House described as "positive and productive" -- lasted for about an hour and a half and came as Netanyahu and Trump sought to patch 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 Iran war began in late February with US-Israeli strikes but has seen a recent pause in the fighting, with Washington saying it wants to give negotiations a chance.Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said Tuesday they targeted a Saudi oil tanker, the NCC Ghazal, in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles for violating a blockade on the kingdom's ports announced by the Iran-backed group.Saudi Arabia had yet to comment on the Houthis' claim, but reported having intercepted drones targeting oil facilities in its east, blaming pro-Iran militias in Iraq.Israel has not taken part in the latest round of hostilities between the US and Iran, which flared earlier this month as an April ceasefire collapsed.The meeting was the eighth between the two leaders since Trump's return to office in early 2025 and came ahead of key electoral tests later this year for both Netanyahu and the US president: national elections in Israel and midterm polls in the United States.Netanyahu's office said he attended a private memorial dinner in Washington on Monday evening in honour of the late senator Lindsey Graham.
He also went to a memorial service for the staunch ally of Israel.Relations between Trump and Netanyahu reached a low point in April during negotiations on the ceasefire with Iran, with Trump unleashing profanity-laced tirades against the Israeli premier.Trump later described Netanyahu in an interview as a "very difficult guy".Netanyahu downplayed the exchanges as "tactical disagreements", saying they were aligned on the goal… US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday for about 90 minutes at the White House, in their first encounter since the joint offensive against Iran began in February. The meeting was held behind closed doors, with no appearance before the press, as Washington seeks to revive negotiations with Tehran.
A group of demonstrators gathered near the White House to protest Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. Reporters kept out; PM’s aide claims Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility not discussed, president didn’t press Israel to advance reconstruction of Gaza, or to withdraw IDF from Syria, Lebanon The post Netanyahu: Meeting with Trump was one of our best ever; White House: Productive, positive appeared first on The Times of Israel. US President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu met at the White House to discuss Iran.
Both leaders sought to manage differences over the future course of the conflict. They also discussed implementing a US-Israel framework agreement with Lebanon. Discussions also covered expanding the Abraham Accords and Gaza stabilization efforts.
Both leaders face domestic political challenges and changing regional dynamics.
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