Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday in Washington to discuss ongoing negotiations with Iran. Netanyahu's office stated that he believes any discussions should involve limitations on Iran's ballistic missile program and a cessation of support for Iran's allied factions in the region. This meeting marks the sixth encounter between the two leaders since Trump resumed his presidency a year ago, highlighting the continuing close ties between Israel and the U.S. in addressing Iranian policies.

Recently, discussions between Iran and the U.S. took place in Oman, with Trump later indicating that negotiations would resume at the beginning of the following week. Despite both the United States and Israel holding adversarial positions towards Iran, Israel tends to adopt a more hardline stance and opposes direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington. This emphasis on a stricter approach suggests Israel is wary of any leniency that might emerge from these discussions, which may threaten its security interests in the region.

Geopolitical analyst Michael Horowitz noted that Israel aims to weaken the Iranian regime long-term, or potentially even lead to its collapse, and is prepared to take additional military action if necessary. Netanyahu's recent comments about Israel's readiness to respond decisively to any Iranian attack further underline this aggressive posture, suggesting that he believes that Iran has yet to face military measures of such magnitude, effectively reiterating Israel's commitment to its defensive strategy against perceived Iranian threats.