Netanyahu told reporters before his plane departed from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, heading to Washington: "I am now leaving for the United States on my seventh trip to meet with President Trump since his election for a second term (early 2025)," and described Israel's relationship with the United States as "exceptional and unprecedented in our history."
Regarding the agenda for the talks, Netanyahu said: "We will discuss a number of issues: Gaza, the region, but primarily the negotiations with Iran." He added: "I will present to the President (Trump/Wednesday) our vision for the principles of the negotiations."
He said that Tel Aviv's vision for negotiations is based on "important principles, not only for Israel, but for everyone who seeks peace and security in the Middle East," as he put it.
“Prefers to attack”
In this context, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported on Tuesday that the goal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States is to ensure that an agreement is reached with Iran that includes its missile program in addition to the nuclear issue.
The agency quoted unnamed sources close to Netanyahu as saying that he is expected to present President Trump with information indicating that Iran’s ballistic missile program has regained its capabilities. It added: “However, sources in the United States believe that Netanyahu prefers the possibility of Trump attacking Iran and is interested in promoting this move during his visit.”
The broadcasting authority stated: "The aim of the visit is to emphasize to the US administration the risks inherent in formulating a 'narrow agreement' with Iran that will focus solely on the nuclear issue."
According to sources close to Netanyahu, Israel is concerned that Iran continues to work unhindered to rehabilitate and develop its ballistic missile system.
The sources added: "Netanyahu is expected to present to Trump the repercussions of such an agreement, which does not address the additional threats from Tehran," as they put it.
For its part, Israel's Channel 12 said: "The Prime Minister traveled to Washington on Tuesday afternoon for an urgent meeting with the US President," adding that the visit is "short, lasting only three days, and he will return to Israel on Thursday afternoon."
Netanyahu’s visit to the United States was scheduled for February 18, but he brought it forward by a week, with the aim of influencing the negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to Hebrew media.
On Friday, Trump described the first round of his country's indirect negotiations with Iran in Muscat as "very good," indicating that Tehran had strongly demonstrated its desire to reach a new agreement, and that the two sides plan to meet again next week.
Tehran believes that the US administration and Israel are fabricating pretexts for military intervention and regime change in it, and vows to respond to any military attack, even if it is limited, and insists on lifting the Western economic sanctions imposed on it in exchange for restricting its nuclear program.
Uranium enrichment is a major point of contention between the two sides, and Iran is demanding the lifting of sanctions in exchange for its commitment to restrict its nuclear program in a way that prevents the production of an atomic bomb.
In contrast, the United States demands that Iran completely halt its uranium enrichment activities and transfer its highly enriched uranium out of the country.
The US administration also sought to put Iran’s missile program and its support for armed groups in the region on the negotiating table, but Iran repeatedly stressed that it would not negotiate on any issues other than its nuclear program
