Netanyahu To Meet Trump as Iran Talks Intensify and U.S. Military Buildup Grows

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Wednesday with President Donald Trump at the White House, as negotiations with Iran enter a decisive and potentially volatile phase. The meeting, set for 11:00 a.m. Washington time, will mark Netanyahu’s seventh face-to-face encounter with Trump since the U.S. president began his second term, underscoring the unusually close relationship between the two leaders.

Hovering over the talks is the central question of how the United States will proceed with Iran amid ongoing negotiations, even as Trump keeps a military option firmly on the table. Speaking Tuesday night on Fox Business, Trump said he prefers a deal but only one that eliminates Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions and curbs its missile capabilities. “I prefer to make a deal — no nuclear weapons or missiles, and the other things,” he said.

Trump has simultaneously signaled both optimism and resolve. He told Axios he is considering deploying an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East if talks with Tehran collapse, while insisting that a strong agreement remains possible. “We can make a great deal. Netanyahu wants it too — he wants a good deal,” Trump said.

In Israel, however, there is deep concern that any U.S.-Iran agreement could limit Israel’s freedom to act militarily against the Islamic Republic. Israeli officials fear a scenario reminiscent of the Obama-era nuclear deal, when Israel publicly rejected the accord but ultimately refrained from military action. According to Israeli assessments, Iran could amass roughly 2,000 ballistic missiles within weeks, dramatically escalating the threat to Israel’s civilian population.

Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu said the negotiations with Iran would be “first and foremost” on the agenda, alongside discussions on Gaza and broader regional issues. He emphasized that Israel would present principles he believes are essential not only for Israel’s security but for stability across the Middle East.

Israeli military analysts warn that an agreement failing to address ballistic missiles and Iran’s regional proxy network would effectively strip Israel of its ability to preempt looming threats. Once the United States signs a deal and declares regional calm, Israeli leaders — present or future — would face immense pressure not to act militarily, even if Iran crosses dangerous thresholds.

Behind the scenes, Israeli officials say the current negotiations are far tougher than previous rounds. They point to an expanding U.S. “security armada” in the region, including a surge of transport aircraft, refueling tankers, and missile defenses. Satellite imagery shows heightened activity at U.S. bases across Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and at Diego Garcia, suggesting preparations for rapid escalation if diplomacy fails.

Netanyahu’s core objective during the closed-door meeting is to ensure that Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for proxy groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas remain central to any agreement. Israel intends to argue that Iranian missiles should be limited strictly to defensive ranges of no more than 300 kilometers and that Tehran must halt its financing and arming of regional militias.

The meeting will take place without public statements or a press conference, signaling its sensitive nature. Israeli and American officials expect an extensive exchange of intelligence, including briefings on Iran’s missile development, its long-term ambitions to reach U.S. territory, and its violent crackdown on domestic protesters.

Netanyahu is traveling with a notably small delegation, avoiding senior defense officials to counter accusations that Israel is pressing for war. His entourage includes his military secretary, his nominee for Mossad chief Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, and acting National Security Council head Gil Reich.

As Trump weighs diplomacy against the growing military buildup, Israeli officials privately assess that the chances of a comprehensive agreement remain slim, given Iran’s refusal to relinquish uranium enrichment, curb missile development, or abandon its proxy network. Netanyahu’s message to Trump is expected to be blunt: Iran is a malign regional actor, and any deal that ignores missiles and proxies will fail to deliver real peace or security.

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