Netanyahu heads to White House for first Trump meeting since Iran war

The meeting comes amid renewed attention on the Middle East following months of tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Although Washington and Tel Aviv have publicly differed on aspects of the conflict, both leaders have sought to project unity ahead of the talks.

The discussions are expected to focus primarily on Iran, with the Trump administration maintaining that diplomatic negotiations remain the preferred path despite the conflict that erupted after US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

Israel has not participated in the latest hostilities between Washington and Tehran, which resumed earlier this month after an April ceasefire collapsed.

Tuesday’s meeting will be the eighth between Trump and Netanyahu since the US president returned to office and their first in-person engagement since the conflict began.

Speaking before departing Israel on Monday, Netanyahu said the talks would address key regional issues, with Iran at the top of the agenda.

“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,” he said.

Relations between the two leaders appeared strained earlier this year during negotiations over the ceasefire, with Trump publicly criticizing Netanyahu and later describing him in an interview as “a very difficult guy.”

Netanyahu, however, dismissed the public exchanges as tactical differences, insisting both governments remain aligned on the broader objectives of the conflict.

Beyond Iran, the leaders are expected to review the implementation of the US-backed agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon last month, amid ongoing challenges in enforcing the deal.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is also expected to feature in the discussions. Nearly three years after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, reconstruction efforts in the Palestinian territory remain stalled, while Israeli military operations continue against individuals it identifies as militants.

Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the meeting is likely intended to counter speculation of growing divisions between Washington and Tel Aviv.

According to him, the visit is designed to demonstrate to Iran, Lebanon and the wider international community that the alliance between the United States and Israel remains intact despite reports of disagreements.

Freeman argued that any differences between Trump and Netanyahu relate more to the timing, intensity and execution of military operations than to their overall strategic objectives.

He also suggested that Trump is expected to prioritize discussions on Iran and expanding the Abraham Accords—US-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states—while Gaza is likely to receive less attention.

The Abraham Accords, signed during Trump’s first term, established diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and later Morocco.

However, some analysts believe the meeting could also include discussions on the possible reduction of Israel’s military presence in areas such as Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet United States President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday in their first face-to-face meeting since the outbreak of the Iran conflict.

The meeting comes amid renewed attention on the Middle East following months of tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Although Washington and Tel Aviv have publicly differed on aspects of the conflict, both leaders have sought to project unity ahead of the talks.

The discussions are expected to focus primarily on Iran, with the Trump administration maintaining that diplomatic negotiations remain the preferred path despite the conflict that erupted after US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

Israel has not participated in the latest hostilities between Washington and Tehran, which resumed earlier this month after an April ceasefire collapsed.

Tuesday’s meeting will be the eighth between Trump and Netanyahu since the US president returned to office and their first in-person engagement since the conflict began.

Speaking before departing Israel on Monday, Netanyahu said the talks would address key regional issues, with Iran at the top of the agenda.

“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,” he said.

Relations between the two leaders appeared strained earlier this year during negotiations over the ceasefire, with Trump publicly criticizing Netanyahu and later describing him in an interview as “a very difficult guy.”

Netanyahu, however, dismissed the public exchanges as tactical differences, insisting both governments remain aligned on the broader objectives of the conflict.

Beyond Iran, the leaders are expected to review the implementation of the US-backed agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon last month, amid ongoing challenges in enforcing the deal.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is also expected to feature in the discussions. Nearly three years after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, reconstruction efforts in the Palestinian territory remain stalled, while Israeli military operations continue against individuals it identifies as militants.

Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the meeting is likely intended to counter speculation of growing divisions between Washington and Tel Aviv.

According to him, the visit is designed to demonstrate to Iran, Lebanon and the wider international community that the alliance between the United States and Israel remains intact despite reports of disagreements.

Freeman argued that any differences between Trump and Netanyahu relate more to the timing, intensity and execution of military operations than to their overall strategic objectives.

He also suggested that Trump is expected to prioritize discussions on Iran and expanding the Abraham Accords—US-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states—while Gaza is likely to receive less attention.

The Abraham Accords, signed during Trump’s first term, established diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and later Morocco.

However, some analysts believe the meeting could also include discussions on the possible reduction of Israel’s military presence in areas such as Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.