Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Talks Enter Critical Phase

by | Feb 8, 2026 | News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington this week to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, as negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program continue.

Netanyahu is scheduled to depart Tuesday and meet Trump on Wednesday before returning to Israel by Friday. The visit comes days after U.S. and Iranian officials held indirect talks in Oman — the first since last summer’s Israel-Iran war.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office stressed that Israel believes any agreement with Iran must address not only nuclear enrichment but also Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for regional proxy forces.

Iranian officials have said they will not relinquish their right to enrich uranium, and sources indicated missile production was not discussed in the initial Oman talks.

Joining Netanyahu on the trip is Brig. Gen. Omer Tischler, Israel’s incoming Air Force chief, who has recently taken on a diplomatic role in Washington amid the absence of a permanent Israeli defense attaché in the U.S.

Meanwhile, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea following the talks. Witkoff said the visit underscored America’s commitment to “peace through strength,” noting a recent incident in which a carrier-based pilot downed an Iranian drone.

Trump said negotiations with Iran would continue next week, describing the initial talks as “very good,” while reiterating that all options remain on the table if diplomacy fails.

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