Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his entourage landed in Washington on Tuesday evening local time, ahead of Netanyahu's meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump.
After arriving in Washington, Netanyahu met at Blair House with Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
During the meeting, the parties discussed regional issues, and Witkoff and Kushner provided an update on the first round of talks they held with Iran last Friday.
The meeting between Netanyahu and Trump is expected to take place at the White House on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Washington time (6:00 p.m. Israel time). This will be their seventh meeting since Trump began his second term as president, and the sixth at the White House itself, after the previous one was held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Trump, meanwhile, said in an interview with Fox Business Network that he thinks that Iran wants to make a deal with the United States on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and it would be “foolish" if it did not.
“We have a massive flotilla right now going over to Iran. I think they want to make a deal. I think they would be foolish if they didn't. We took out their nuclear power last time and we'll have to see if we take out more this time," said the President.
"They want to make a deal. They wouldn't talk to anybody else, but they're talking to me," he continued. "Obama and Biden, what they did in terms of creating a monster with Iran was terrible."
Earlier, Trump spoke to Channel 12 News and said that if talks with Iran fail and no agreement is reached, he would be prepared to take military action, as he did about six months ago.
Trump stressed that he prefers reaching an agreement with Iran, but warned that if this proves impossible, he would take decisive and forceful action against the country. “The Iranians very much want to reach a deal. Either we make a deal, or we will have to do something very tough - like last time," he said.
At the same time, Trump noted that he is considering sending an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East as part of the US military buildup in the Gulf. “We have an armada there, and maybe another one on the way," the President added.
The President said the meeting with Netanyahu would focus mainly on issues related to Iran, adding that Netanyahu is also not “pressured" by the negotiations, but is interested in reaching a good agreement. “I don’t think Netanyahu is pressured by the talks with Iran. He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal."