Early Netanyahu visit signals strains over U.S.-Iran talks, expert says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington ahead of schedule signals concern in Tel Aviv that the anticipated agenda of upcoming U.S.-Iran negotiations may not align with Israeli interests, Iran specialist Vardan Voskanyan says.

In a social media post on Thursday, he stated Tehran has sought to limit the scope of any talks with Washington strictly to its nuclear program, while Israel remains concerned about Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and its network of regional allies and proxies, issues that Iranian officials have indicated will not be part of negotiations.

Meanwhile, Voskanyan argued that Iran’s diplomatic outreach, combined with broader regional dynamics, has helped create a Middle Eastern “diplomatic buffer” around Tehran. He said countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Egypt and Pakistan are exerting noticeable pressure on Washington to avoid a military confrontation with Iran.

That dynamic has placed the diplomatic arm of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in a difficult position, he said, as it seeks to balance Israel’s security concerns with the differing interests of other regional partners.

If successful, Voskanyan said the emerging regional alignment potentially including Iran could in the longer term evolve into a more autonomous geopolitical bloc, adding that only tentative signs of such a development currently exist.

Following Wednesday’s meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, both sides issued statements outlining their positions.

“It was a very good meeting, the tremendous relationship between our two Countries continues,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There was nothing definitive reached other than 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. 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,” he added.

Netanyahu’s office said the leaders discussed negotiations with Iran, the situation in Gaza and regional developments. The Israeli prime minister underscored Israel’s security needs in the context of the negotiations and the two leaders agreed on continued coordination and close contact between them.