US President Donald Trump, after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday evening, revealed that the US would hold direct talks with Iran on Saturday to address the ongoing nuclear issue. Trump stated that the talks would be held at a high level, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy in resolving the issue. "If the talks do not succeed, Iran will be in great danger because it must not have nuclear weapons," Trump warned. "This is not a complicated formula."
The president also expressed his admiration for Netanyahu, calling him "a great friend of Israel" and lauding the Israeli leader for his strong leadership. "I am the best president Israel has ever dreamed of having," Trump said, as the two leaders made statements in the Oval Office. "We had good conversations, we discussed Iran and trade."
Israel and US Address Hostage Situation
Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his gratitude for Trump’s support, particularly in the fight against anti-Semitism, and highlighted the importance of the discussions on the hostage situation. "We are working on another deal and hope to bring all the hostages out," Netanyahu said. He emphasized the severe suffering of the hostages and reiterated Israel's commitment to securing their release.
On trade, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel would eliminate its trade deficit with the US. "Israel will be a model," Netanyahu stated, adding that the two had discussed tariffs, with Israel seeking to reduce trade restrictions.
Gaza and Regional Security Concerns
Netanyahu and Trump also discussed the situation in Gaza, with Trump reaffirming his belief in the necessity of relocating Gazans to other countries. "Gaza is a huge piece of real estate – and we will be involved in it," Trump remarked. "The US will take over and run it. It’s a great place that no one wants to live in."
On the topic of Syria, Netanyahu voiced concerns over Turkey using Syria as a base for operations, with both leaders discussing potential ways to avoid conflict and how Trump could serve as a mediator in the region. Trump also expressed his willingness to assist Israel in resolving any issues with Turkey, citing his strong relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Trump and Netanyahu Discuss Iran's Nuclear Program
Both leaders reiterated their commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Netanyahu stressed, "We are united in the position that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon." Trump, for his part, confirmed that direct US-Iran talks would begin on Saturday and expressed hope that the talks would be successful, noting that diplomacy would be the best course of action, though military options remained on the table if necessary.
“We’ll see what happens,” Trump said. "I hope we can avoid doing anything else, but that could be very dangerous. I very much hope that the talks will be good and that’s also in Iran’s interest."
Hostage Crisis and Regional Tensions
Trump also expressed concern about the ongoing hostage crisis, acknowledging the difficult nature of the process. “We have a problem with the hostages – we’re trying to get them out. It’s a long process that shouldn’t be that long,” he said. He added that he hoped the Israeli people would appreciate the efforts being made to secure their release, acknowledging the challenging situation faced by Netanyahu and the Israeli government.
Trump further discussed the Houthis, rebels in Yemen, stating that the US had successfully targeted and eliminated key leaders. "We were tough and we succeeded. We hit them hard," he said.
Tariffs on Israel and Economic Relations
Regarding trade relations, Trump reminded reporters of the substantial financial support Israel receives from the US, stating, "We are giving Israel billions of dollars. Four billion dollars - congratulations on that, by the way."
Prior to the meeting, the White House had announced the cancellation of the press conference that was originally planned for the end of the meeting. The reason for the cancellation remains unclear, though an Israeli official claimed that the press conference was never part of the initial plan and was later removed from the schedule.
Netanyahu’s Visit and Key Discussions
Netanyahu’s visit to Washington followed his trip to Budapest, where he met with Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán before being invited to Washington. During the meeting, Netanyahu and Trump discussed several key issues, including the hostage crisis, US-imposed tariffs on Israeli goods, and regional security concerns such as the Lebanese front and the Iranian threat.
The two also discussed the ongoing geopolitical challenges in the Middle East, with Trump emphasizing his commitment to supporting Israel in addressing these complex issues. The developments in the US-Iran talks and the ongoing discussions about tariffs, security, and the Middle East will likely have significant implications for both US-Israeli relations and broader regional stability in the coming months.
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