Jetting to DC, Netanyahu says he’ll present Trump with ‘our approach’ to Iran talks |
Heading to Washington on Tuesday to meet with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he planned to convey Israel’s position on US nuclear talks with Tehran during the meeting.
Before boarding Wing of Zion for his flight, Netanyahu told reporters that he will “present to the president our approach around our principles on the negotiations.”
He added that these principles are important not only for Israel, but for every country around the world “that wants peace and security.”
The prime minister was initially scheduled to head to Washington later this month to meet with Trump, but asked to move up the meeting to Wednesday in what some interpreted as a sign of anxiety over the direction the fledgling talks might take.
The two leaders will discuss “a series of topics,” including Gaza, Netanyahu said in his remarks before departing, adding that his repeated meetings with Trump are evidence of the “unique closeness” between Israel and the US, and between him and Trump personally.
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel shortly before the premier was slated to take off that Netanyahu was making the trip “with the aim of influencing the negotiations with Iran.”
“Prime Minister Netanyahu believes that any agreement must not only prevent Iran from attempting to rearm itself with nuclear weapons and eliminate any possibility of uranium enrichment,” said the official, “but also restrict ballistic missiles and ensure the cessation of support and funding for terrorism by the Axis of Evil.”
On Monday, Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu decided to move up his meeting with Trump in order to deliver an in-person briefing on Israel’s latest intelligence regarding Iran.
According to the outlet, which cited a source close to the premier, Netanyahu will deliver the same briefing to Trump that he gave US special envoy Steve Witkoff when he visited Israel last week.
He is choosing to deliver........