Trump and Netanyahu Hold High-Level White House Talks on Iran and Regional Security
US President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Tuesday for a high-level meeting focused on regional security, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and broader Middle East diplomacy.
The closed-door meeting, held in the Oval Office, marked the eighth in-person discussion between the two leaders since Trump returned to office. According to the White House, the talks lasted approximately 90 minutes and were described as “positive and productive.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump also met separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, noting that both discussions produced constructive outcomes.
Following the meeting, Netanyahu praised the talks, calling them “excellent” and highlighting what he described as strong cooperation between Washington and Tel Aviv. He said the leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and strengthening strategic coordination on regional security.
Senior US officials joined the discussions, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Israel’s delegation included Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and other senior government representatives.
The leaders were also expected to discuss the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, implementation of the Israel-Lebanon security framework and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, according to previous White House briefings.
Outside the White House, demonstrators gathered to protest Netanyahu’s visit, reflecting continued divisions over US policy in the Middle East.
The meeting came despite recent public disagreements between Trump and Netanyahu over Iran-related messaging and US defence policy. However, Trump recently indicated that the two leaders remain closely aligned on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while acknowledging differences in their approach.
Netanyahu travelled to Washington to attend memorial events honouring the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time supporter of strong US-Israel relations. During a tribute, the Israeli prime minister praised Graham’s enduring commitment to both American and Israeli security, describing him as one of Israel’s strongest allies in the United States.
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