President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday that he wants to keep trying diplomacy to pressure Iran into curbing its nuclear program, in hopes of averting a war in the Middle East.
The two leaders met at the White House for about two-and-a-half hours on the Iran situation and other issues in the region, including the Gaza ceasefire.
Moments after the meeting concluded, Mr. Trump said that his “preference” is to continue talks with Iran over its nuclear program.
“I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer — That did not work well for them. Hopefully, this time they will be more reasonable and responsible,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the U.S. military operation in June that took out three Iranian nuclear sites.
Senior officials from the U.S. and Iran met last week for talks in Oman, which has served as a mediator between the two countries, to negotiate an end to its nuclear program. Iran’s foreign minister on Friday said the talks were off to “a good start,” and Oman’s foreign minister called them “very serious.” However, it does not appear much was accomplished during the talks.
Mr. Trump has indicated that he would strike Iran should the talks break down, writing on Truth Social last month that “time is running out” and “the next attack will be far worse” than last year’s assault on Iran.
Mr. Netanyahu has viewed Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat to Israel and repeatedly warned that the authoritarian regime cannot possess a nuclear weapon. He has pushed for military actions.
Economic protests in Iran have touched off a massive movement pushing back against the country’s authoritarian government. Iranian leaders have responded to the protests with a harsh crackdown on demonstrators, killing thousands, according to human rights groups.
The U.S. has responded to Iran’s restarting its nuclear program and violent crackdown on protesters with an unprecedented military buildup in the region.
On Tuesday, the president said that he would send a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East if negotiations with Iran go awry.
Currently, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, which includes fighter jets, Tomahawk missiles and several ships, are in the region. The U.S. had two carriers in the region during Israel’s war in Gaza.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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