In a surprise move, Netanyahu's office announced Saturday that the prime minister will fly to the United States this coming Wednesday for a meeting with President Trump in Washington, where the two will discuss negotiations with Iran. Netanyahu had originally been scheduled to depart for the meeting in about two weeks, but the trip was brought forward to Wednesday.
At the same time, Netanyahu will convene a meeting of coalition faction leaders tomorrow following the weekly cabinet session, as well as a meeting of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet. The Prime Minister's Office said that "the prime minister believes any negotiations must include limitations on ballistic missiles and an end to support for the Iranian axis."
Israel Hayom has learned that the background to Netanyahu's urgent trip to Washington is his sense that Israel's position on a potential deal with Iran must be clarified "to all levels of the administration." Netanyahu concluded that a direct conversation with Trump was already necessary last week, following his meeting with envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
In Israel, there has been no criticism of the two envoys, but officials say Netanyahu concluded that he also needed to speak directly with the president. It is possible that Trump's remarks on Saturday about "very good talks" with Iran reinforced the prime minister's assessment that a personal meeting with the American president was required.
Meeting moved up
It should be noted that Netanyahu was originally expected to meet Trump about a week later, around February 19. In other words, the two leaders decided to move the meeting forward. Sources close to Netanyahu did not provide further details on the unusual change, but the wording of Netanyahu's statement, together with remarks by President Trump, has created the impression of gaps between the sides.
"The prime minister believes any negotiations must include limitations on ballistic missiles and an end to support for the Iranian axis," Netanyahu said in the official statement. This comes as President Trump and his senior adviser Steve Witkoff have referred only to the nuclear issue as the point of contention between the countries.
That said, other senior administration officials, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have stated explicitly that any agreement with Iran must also address the additional issues raised by Netanyahu.
The planned meeting between Netanyahu and Trump follows the prime minister's meeting in Israel earlier this week with presidential advisers Witkoff and Kushner. During that meeting, senior Israeli security officials presented the American representatives with intelligence on Iran's efforts to rebuild its missile infrastructure, as well as other arms buildup measures.
In the past, former minister Ron Dermer served as Netanyahu's emissary for such persuasion efforts. However, since Dermer's departure, there has been no Israeli figure with comparable influence in the administration aside from Netanyahu himself. This appears to be another reason the prime minister decided to travel urgently to the American capital.
A diplomatic source told Israel Hayom that the decision to move up Netanyahu's trip to Washington does not necessarily indicate American flexibility in Oman. There are no signs of such flexibility, the source said, adding that Iranian statements on the issue, including insistence on continued enrichment, are intended for domestic consumption. According to the source, the meeting with Trump will take place with a broad team that will include Rubio and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, alongside Witkoff and Kushner, who are en route back to Washington.
The source added that the Washington Board of Peace, of which Israel is a member, is scheduled to convene the following week, on February 19. It is unclear whether Netanyahu will travel again to attend the meeting.
As a reminder, Hegseth and Rubio are considered to hold tougher positions on Iran than the presidential envoys.
Trump's envoys visit aircraft carrier
Envoys of US President Donald Trump for talks with Iran were flown Saturday night to visit the American aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf of Oman, Axios reported. The two were accompanied by the commander of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper.
Earlier reports indicated that the vessel was moving northward and that a US Navy V-22 Osprey helicopter had departed from Muscat, the capital of Oman, toward the carrier. The decision to move the aircraft carrier north into the Gulf of Oman is seen as a signal of confidence by the Americans and a threat to Tehran, as it expands the operational range of the fighter jets aboard to operate within Iranian territory.
Iran: "We will respond with force"
Meanwhile, Hossein Ashtari, a senior adviser to Iran's chief of staff, said Saturday that his country is equipping itself with new hardware to confront any potential American attack. Iranian media quoted Ashtari as saying: "We are not seeking war and will not attack any country, but if a country attacks Iran, we will respond with force. This is the policy and strategy of the supreme commander of the armed forces."
He added that Iran's armed forces have acquired new military equipment, noting that its use on the battlefield would force the enemy to retreat. "We have acquired equipment that, if used on the battlefield, will force them to retreat," he said.
