Washington—As President Trump weighs sending a second aircraft-carrier group to pressure Iran into a nuclear deal, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has rushed to the White House for urgent talks. Netanyahu, who requested to advance his scheduled February 18 visit, arrived on Wednesday to urge Trump that any agreement must address not only Iran's nuclear ambitions but also its ballistic missiles and regional influence through militant proxy groups.
Trump's comments came amid heightened tensions, following what he described as “very good talks” with the Islamic Republic last week. He told Axios on Tuesday that Iran “wants to make a deal very badly,” while expressing optimism mixed with threats. “We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” Trump said, adding that he was “thinking” about dispatching another aircraft-carrier strike group to the Middle East.
The Israeli alarm was triggered by Tehran's top negotiator stating that its ballistic missiles were not part of the discussion. Netanyahu sought to impress upon Trump the need for a comprehensive deal curbing these capabilities alongside nuclear restrictions and Iran's support for proxy militants, prompting the expedited trip to Washington.
Trump kept both Iran and Israel guessing on his next moves, emphasizing American firepower assembled in the region. “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” he warned, signaling readiness to escalate if necessary. He anticipates a second round of US-Iran talks next week.
The developments underscore the delicate balance in US-Israel-Iran relations, with Trump leveraging military assets to push for concessions. Netanyahu's accelerated visit highlights Israel's concerns over any deal that might overlook Iran's missile program and broader destabilizing activities in the Middle East.
As the armada advances and negotiations loom, the White House talks between Trump and Netanyahu on Wednesday are poised to shape the trajectory of efforts to secure a nuclear agreement with lasting regional implications.
