Netanyahu visits White House for first Trump talks since Iran war began

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House on Tuesday for his first in-person talks with President Donald Trump since the Iran war began. The leaders sought to mend public disagreements on the conflict, which started with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

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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.

The meeting, which lasted about an hour and a half, was expected to focus on the war, though a recent pause in fighting has given negotiations a chance. Israel has not participated in the latest hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, which escalated earlier this month after an April ceasefire collapsed. The White House described the talks as “positive and productive.”

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positive and productive

The leaders also planned to discuss the implementation of a U.S.-sponsored framework deal with Lebanon and the stalled reconstruction efforts in Gaza. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire nearly three years after the war between Israel and Hamas broke out. Israel continues to target individuals the military identifies as militants.

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critical time for the Middle East

Relations between Trump and Netanyahu had previously reached a low point, with Trump reportedly making profanity-laced criticisms of his Israeli ally. Netanyahu downplayed these exchanges as “tactical disagreements,” asserting alignment on war goals. The visit aims to dispel reports of cooling ties between the two allies, with Israel's UN ambassador emphasizing the critical time for the Middle East and Iran's continued actions.

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continue “to choose terrorism over negotiations” and blocking the key Strait of Hormuz waterway.