Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday (February 11, 2026), looking for to press him to undertake a harder line on Iran’s ballistic missile programme within the subsequent spherical of talks.
It is going to be their sixth assembly in the USA since Mr. Trump returned to workplace a 12 months in the past. Additionally they met in Jerusalem in October when Mr. Trump introduced a ceasefire in Gaza.
The assembly comes days after arch-foes Iran and the USA held talks in Oman, after which Mr. Trump mentioned one other spherical of negotiations would observe.
Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Trump can even meet amid rising worldwide outrage over Israeli measures to tighten management of the occupied West Financial institution by permitting settlers to purchase land straight from its Palestinian homeowners.
Nevertheless, it stays unclear whether or not the difficulty can be raised of their talks, regardless of Mr. Trump’s previous opposition to any annexation of the West Financial institution.
Mr. Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned he’ll spotlight Israel’s considerations over Iran’s missile arsenal in discussions with Mr. Trump, and never simply the nuclear programme.
He “believes any negotiations should embrace limitations on ballistic missiles and a halting of the assist for the Iranian axis”, Mr. Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned over the weekend, referring to Iran’s allies within the area.
Thus far, Iran has rejected increasing the scope of its talks with the U.S. past the nuclear concern, although Washington additionally needs Tehran’s ballistic missile programme and its assist for militant teams on the desk.
Iran’s Overseas Ministry spokesperson warned Tuesday (February 10, 2026) that Mr. Netanyahu’s go to would have a “damaging” affect on diplomacy that’s “detrimental to the area”.
Israel’s considerations got here to a head throughout an unprecedented warfare between the 2 longtime adversaries in June final 12 months.
Since then, Israeli officers have repeatedly warned that Iran’s missile capabilities pose a risk distinct from, and in some methods extra fast than, its nuclear programme.
Israeli officers argue that Iran may strike Israel with little warning and likewise overwhelm the nation’s air-defence programs in a sustained battle.
Through the June warfare, Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles and different projectiles at Israeli territory, placing each navy and civilian areas.
People who landed in densely populated areas “brought on extreme injury,” mentioned Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran knowledgeable at Israel’s Institute for Nationwide Safety Research.
“I don’t assume it’s like existential risk, however undoubtedly it’s a serious risk on the Israeli house entrance.”
Missiles a ‘purple line’
Analysts say Netanyahu may be very cautious of any take care of the Iranians.
“He’s involved that President Trump will not be fairly as enthusiastic a couple of navy assault on the Iranians as Netanyahu needs had been the case,” mentioned Man Ziv, an affiliate professor on the overseas coverage and world safety division at American College in Washington.
“He needs to first persuade President Trump that Iran’s ballistic missiles, which he sees as a serious risk to Israel, should be included in any settlement over Iran’s nuclear programme.”
“He needs to guarantee that… Trump sees that as a purple line as properly,” Mr. Ziv advised AFP.
“For Netanyahu, the maximalist goal is obvious: regime change (in Iran) or on the very least the entire dismantling of nuclear and missile capabilities,” geopolitical analyst Michael Horowitz advised AFP.
The 12-day warfare in June was triggered by unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iranian navy and nuclear amenities, in addition to residential areas.
The US later joined the offensive, placing three Iranian nuclear websites, earlier than a ceasefire brokered by Mr. Trump got here into drive.
In Israel, the warfare killed 30 folks and brought on intensive injury to property, together with a hospital and several other public establishments.
In October 2024 Iran fired a barrage of some 200 missiles at Israel in response to the assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah.
In April 2024, amid the Israel–Hamas warfare within the Gaza Strip, Iran — a key backer of the Palestinian Islamist group — launched its first-ever drone and missile assault on Israel.
That strike was in retaliation for a lethal assault on Iran’s consulate in Damascus days earlier, which Tehran blamed on Israel.
Printed – February 10, 2026 04:04 pm IST