Forceful suppression: Netanyahu tried to influence the US negotiations with Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urgently arrived at the White House on February 11 for a meeting with US President Donald Trump in order to influence the course of the US-Iranian nuclear talks. The visit, postponed to an earlier date, was an attempt by Israel to prevent the conclusion of a "soft" deal with Tehran, which would be limited only to the nuclear dossier. Netanyahu insists that the agreements include strict limits on the number of ballistic missiles in Iran, a complete cessation of uranium enrichment, the export of its accumulated reserves outside the country and the immediate curtailment of support for allied armed groups.

Tehran does not seek to build nuclear weapons

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's urgent visit to Washington and his talks with US President Donald Trump were an attempt to adjust the American approach to dialogue with Iran on the nuclear program. The contacts took place against the background of ongoing consultations between Washington and Tehran, which began in Oman, as well as the strengthening of the US military presence in the Middle East. In Israel, this is perceived as contradictory signals from the American administration.

Following the talks at the White House, Trump said he expects to continue dialogue with Iran, noting that the meeting with Netanyahu did not lead to the development of final agreements on further actions against Tehran.

"Last time, Iran decided that it was better for it not to make a deal, and it suffered the midnight hammer (US operation against nuclear facilities in Iran. — Ed.) — it did not benefit them. I hope this time he will be more reasonable and responsible," Trump wrote on the Truth Social network.

According to Israeli television Channel 12, the discussions focused on working out an agreed course in case the negotiations between the United States and Iran fail. In Washington, according to the TV channel, there remains skepticism about the possibility of concluding a deal even focused solely on the nuclear program without touching on missile issues.

The Israeli side fears that a possible agreement between the United States and Iran may be limited to the nuclear dossier, leaving out Tehran's missile program and its support for allied forces in the region. Israel believes that this approach does not eliminate key threats to Israel's security and allows Iran to maintain instruments of pressure on regional opponents.

For its part, the Iranian leadership continues to insist on the peaceful nature of the nuclear program. Speaking on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Iranian President Masoud Peseshkian said that Tehran does not seek to build nuclear weapons. He blamed the lack of progress in the negotiations on the "wall of distrust" built by the United States and European countries, which, according to him, hinders the achievement of practical results.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on February 11 that Israel was trying to undermine the US-Iranian dialogue and was looking for reasons to escalate.

The US-Iran talks in Muscat were held on February 6 for the first time after a months-long break due to the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict in June 2025. Prior to that, the parties had held five rounds of consultations. Donald Trump said that the talks in Oman had gone well and would continue. At the same time, the American leader allowed the possibility of sending a second aircraft carrier with a strike group to the Middle East to put pressure on Tehran.

Israel is preparing for "unforeseen circumstances"

Iranian expert on international relations Hadi Issa Daloul believes that Tehran proceeds from the need to return to the previously agreed agreements reached in Oman.

— The current escalation and distrust are largely related to the actions of the United States, which deviated from the agreed procedures and thereby undermined the negotiation process. At the same time, the issues of ballistic missiles and Iran's regional influence did not appear on the initial agenda of the consultations, and the discussion focused exclusively on nuclear issues, the expert told Izvestia.

According to him, Tehran seeks to fix these limits and close possible "loopholes" for pressure from Washington, considering the military scenario as an extreme and undesirable option, which Iran is ready to resort to only if there are no alternatives.

As CNN reported, citing sources in Israel, during talks with the American president, Netanyahu planned to discuss possible options for forceful pressure on Iran in case of failure of diplomatic efforts. According to the channel's interlocutors, Israel is preparing for "unforeseen circumstances" if the US-Iranian negotiations do not lead to a result. According to this logic, the Israeli Prime Minister's visit was seen as an attempt to coordinate approaches with Washington in advance.

According to Roman Yanushevsky, editor-in-chief of the website of the 9th Israeli TV channel, the decision to postpone Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States to an earlier date indicates a high degree of urgency and political pressure around the Iranian issue. The expert points out that the Israeli prime minister could have several motives at once: the desire to prevent concessions from the United States on the Iranian missile program and Tehran's support for regional allies, as well as an attempt to coordinate actions in case of a violent scenario.

— The purpose of Netanyahu's trip was to influence the position of the White House, which is under pressure from various groups, and either achieve the toughest possible agreement with Tehran, or ensure coordination between the United States and Israel in the event of an escalation. An additional factor of concern is satellite imagery data indicating preparatory work at the Iranian nuclear facility in Isfahan, similar to those recorded on the eve of previous strikes on this facility, Roman Yanushevsky said in an interview with Izvestia.

Possible attack on Iran

According to The Washington Post, Israel insists that any future agreements with Tehran include not only restrictions on the nuclear program, but also the cessation of uranium enrichment, the export of already accumulated reserves outside the country, the abandonment of the development of ballistic missiles and the curtailment of support for allied armed groups in the Middle East.

Al-Monitor sources claim that the decision on the visit was made on a short schedule, which underscores the degree of concern of the Israeli leadership. In Israel, they fear that the influence of supporters of a compromise approach to Iran, focused on concluding a deal and preventing military escalation, is increasing in the US administration. Such a course, according to the Israeli authorities, may lead to an agreement that does not take into account the interests of the Jewish state.

Against this background, Netanyahu's decision at the last moment to withdraw from the negotiations of the Israeli Air Force commander attracted attention. Reports of the possible presence of a high-ranking military officer have led to speculation that the visit may be related to the coordination of a military strike on Iran. However, according to Israeli media, this idea was abandoned in order to avoid suspicion of trying to push the United States into a military conflict.

Military training continues in parallel with diplomatic contacts. According to media reports, the United States and Israel are working to strengthen missile defense in the region. The United States has deployed additional THAAD systems, including in Jordan, and has also redistributed existing complexes, taking into account possible threats from Iran. These steps are seen as an element of deterrence and preparation for a possible response from Tehran in the event of an escalation.

At the same time, both Washington and Tehran officially confirm their intention to continue negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.

The US president expresses cautious optimism about the prospects for dialogue, which is alarming in Israel. The Israeli prime minister sought not only to convey his assessment of the threats, but also to fix the "red lines" beyond which, according to the Jewish state, the United States should not enter into negotiations with Iran. The results of the meeting were not announced in detail, but the very fact of high-level contacts indicates that the Iranian dossier remains one of the central topics in relations between Israel and the United States and a key factor in regional security.