U.S. President Donald Trump said he reached no “definitive” agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how to proceed with Iran following talks at the White House, but stressed that negotiations with Tehran will continue.
The two leaders met for more than two and a half hours behind closed doors in what Trump described as a “very good meeting.” However, he made clear that no major decisions were taken.
“There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated,” Trump said in a social media post after the meeting. “If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference.”
The meeting marked their seventh encounter in nearly 13 months since Trump returned to office. Netanyahu had been expected to press for broader U.S. negotiations with Iran beyond its nuclear program, including limits on Tehran’s missile arsenal. While he emphasized Israel’s security needs, there was no indication Trump committed to expanding the scope of talks.
Iran has rejected linking missile capabilities to nuclear negotiations. “The Islamic Republic’s missile capabilities are non-negotiable,” said Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Trump has warned that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails, recalling that the United States struck Iranian nuclear sites last June after talks broke down. He also told Fox Business that a good deal would mean “no nuclear weapons, no missiles,” though he did not elaborate.
The discussions followed nuclear negotiations held in Oman last Friday, which both sides described as positive. Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, originally scheduled for February 18, was moved forward amid renewed U.S. engagement with Tehran.
Gaza was also on the agenda. Trump said the two leaders discussed “tremendous progress” in the region, though gaps remain over key elements of a proposed ceasefire and reconstruction plan.
