Netanyahu heads to US for first time since Iran war, seeking to mend ties with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Washington for his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump since the start of the Iran war. The leaders have publicly disagreed on the conflict, though both have recently sought to downplay any tensions.

The meeting is expected to focus on the war, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes in February. Washington reportedly wants to give negotiations a chance, while Israel has not participated in recent hostilities following a collapsed ceasefire.

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This is a great privilege, but it is also a great responsibility. We will discuss all the issues on the agenda, first and foremost Iran. Naturally, our goal is to safeguard our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us.

Relations between the two leaders have appeared strained, with Trump reportedly describing Netanyahu as "a very difficult guy" in the past. Netanyahu has characterized such exchanges as "tactical disagreements," emphasizing alignment on the war's ultimate goals.

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I think that the main issue... is to show the world, to show Iran, and also even Lebanon and others as well specifically, that there is no break or any kind of major disagreement between the United States and Israel.

Beyond the war, the leaders are also slated to discuss a U.S.-sponsored framework deal with Lebanon and the stalled reconstruction efforts in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation remains dire.

Experts believe a primary goal of the visit is to counter reports of cooling relations. "I think that the main issue... is to show the world, to show Iran, and also even Lebanon and others as well specifically, that there is no break or any kind of major disagreement between the United States and Israel," said Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Freeman noted that differences between the leaders likely concern the "means" of the war, not the ultimate "ends."

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There's more in agreement between the two leaders than disagreement.