Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expects to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump next week to discuss ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran.
The announcement comes a day after U.S. and Iranian delegations concluded a round of talks in Oman.
Trump recently directed a buildup of U.S. military forces in the Middle East, and he has threatened new strikes on Iran if an agreeable deal can’t be reached between Washington and Tehran.
The exact scope of U.S.-Iran negotiations may prove a contentious point going forward. Thus far, Tehran has signaled a willingness to discuss Iranian nuclear projects, but Washington may look for further concessions.
In remarks this week ahead of the Oman talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations should also address Iran’s missile programs, violent responses to internal protests, and Tehran’s support for terrorist proxies across the Middle East. Netanyahu’s office echoed some of those concerns in its statement on Feb. 7.
In an interview with Al Jazeera in Qatar on Feb. 7, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran’s missile programs are not up for negotiation.
Araghchi represented Tehran in the Oman talks.
Speaking with reporters on Air Force One en route to Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 6, Trump said Iran “wants to make a deal very badly.”
“We have to see where that deal is,” he said. “But I think Iran looks like they want to make a deal very badly, as they should.”
During the Air Force One press gaggle on Feb. 6, Trump faced a question about whether he would accept a deal that only covers Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He did not directly specify the scope of the ongoing negotiations but said, “They’re willing to do much more than they would have a year and a half ago or even a year ago.”
The Epoch Times reached out to the White House for comment on the negotiations with Iran and plans for a meeting with Netanyahu but did not receive a response.
