Netanyahu says he will present 'Israel’s vision' on Iran talks to Trump during US visit
Israeli prime minister says Iran negotiations top agenda during brief Washington visit aimed at influencing US-Iran talks
ISTANBUL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he will present Israel’s vision for negotiations with Iran during an expected meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
Speaking to reporters before departing Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv en route to Washington, Netanyahu described Israel’s relationship with the US as “exceptional and unprecedented in our history.”
Outlining the agenda, Netanyahu said his talks with Trump will cover Gaza and regional issues, but will focus primarily on negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
“I will present to the president our vision for the principles of the negotiations,” Netanyahu said.
He claimed Israel’s approach reflects “important principles not only for Israel, but for everyone seeking peace and security in the Middle East.”
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu traveled to Washington on Tuesday afternoon for an urgent meeting with the US president.
The channel said the visit is short and will last three days, with Netanyahu returning to Israel on Thursday.
The meeting will be the seventh between Trump and Netanyahu since the start of the US president’s second term early last year. Five of their meetings were held in the US and one in Israel.
Netanyahu had planned to visit the US on Feb. 18, but moved the trip up by a week in an effort to influence negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to Israeli media.
Trump described the first round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Muscat on Friday as “very good,” saying Tehran strongly showed its desire to reach a new agreement and that both sides plan to meet again next week.
Iran says the US administration and Israel fabricate pretexts for military intervention and regime change, warning it will respond to any military attack, even if limited, and insisting on lifting Western economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.
Uranium enrichment remains a central point of dispute, with Iran demanding sanctions relief in return for limiting its nuclear activities.
The US, by contrast, is demanding that Iran fully halt uranium enrichment and transfer highly enriched uranium out of the country.
Washington has also sought to include Iran’s missile program and its support for armed groups in the region in the negotiations, but Tehran has repeatedly said it will not negotiate issues beyond its nuclear program.
*Writing by Lina Altawell
