Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump this week about Iran talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday about American talks with Iran, his office said, as concerns remain high about possible regional conflict.

“The prime minister believes that all negotiations must include limiting the ballistic missiles, and ending support for the Iranian axis,” Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement, referring to Tehran's support for militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories.

Trump and Netanyahu last met in December.

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There was no immediate White House comment.

The US and the Islamic Republic of Iran held indirect talks on Friday in Oman that appeared to return to the starting point on how to approach discussions over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Trump said the United States had “very good” talks and more were planned for early next week.

Washington was being represented by Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to reach a deal on the nuclear program after sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships to the region amid Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests that killed thousands.

Gulf Arab nations fear an attack could spark a regional war, with memories fresh of the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June.

For the first time in negotiations with Iran, the US on Friday brought its top military commander in the Middle East to the table.

US Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the military’s Central Command, then visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday with Witkoff and Kushner, the command said in a statement.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told journalists that “nuclear talks and the resolution of the main issues must take place in a calm atmosphere, without tension and without threats”.

He said that diplomats would return to their capitals, signaling that this round of negotiations was over.

It remains unclear what terms Iran is willing to negotiate at the talks.

Tehran has maintained that these talks will only be on its nuclear program.

However, the Al Jazeera satellite news network reported that diplomats from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar offered Iran a proposal in which Tehran would halt enrichment for three years, send its highly enriched uranium out of the country and pledge to “not initiate the use of ballistic missiles”.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday the talks needed to include all those issues.

Israel, a close US ally, believes Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon and wants its program scrapped, though Iran has insisted that its atomic plans are for peaceful purposes.

Israel also wants a halt to Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for militant groups in the region.

Araghchi, speaking at a forum in Qatar, accused Israel of destabilising the region, saying that it “breaches sovereignties, it assassinates official dignitaries, it conducts terrorist operations, it expands its reach in multiple theatres”.

He criticised Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and called for “comprehensive and targeted sanctions against Israel, including an immediate arms embargo.”

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