Netanyahu to attend Sen Graham's funeral, meet Trump to discuss Iran strategy, nuclear threat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed Friday, as tensions continue to rise over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, regional activities and the future of U.S. policy toward Tehran.

The meeting will mark the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders since the start of Operation Epic Fury against the Islamic Republic of Iran on Feb. 28. Netanyahu and Trump last met at the White House on Feb. 11, roughly two weeks before the outbreak of the Iran war.

Netanyahu’s visit comes amid ongoing disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) and broader questions about how to address Tehran’s nuclear program. The meeting is expected to focus on Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions, the possibility of renewed military action, and efforts to prevent further regional escalation.

The talks come as military tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate. Trump has warned in recent days that he could order unprecedented strikes against the Iranian regime if diplomacy fails to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

The White House had reportedly delayed scheduling the meeting amid concerns over Netanyahu’s declining popularity among both Democrats and Republicans. Some Trump administration officials were also reportedly concerned that a new round of U.S. strikes against Iran following a Trump-Netanyahu meeting could fuel accusations that Israel had pushed Washington into another Middle East conflict.

There are also concerns that the Iranian regime could decide to strike Israel ahead of any potential U.S. military escalation against Tehran. Israel has therefore raised its alert level and is preparing for the possibility of Iranian missile fire over the weekend amid continued U.S. strikes on Iran.

Another issue expected to be discussed is Hezbollah’s presence in Lebanon. Trump has previously expressed frustration over Israel’s continued military operations against the Iranian-backed terror group, which Tehran has said must end as part of any potential agreement with Washington.

During a June summit in France, Trump said he had suggested Israel to allow Syria to confront Hezbollah, arguing that Damascus could handle the group more effectively. “I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah. To be honest with you, I think they’d do a better job,” Trump said. However, Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa later indicated that Damascus does not intend to fight Hezbollah inside Lebanon.

The Trump administration has signaled that it prefers a diplomatic solution to the conflict with the Iranian regime. However, Trump has recently voiced growing frustration with the regime’s unwillingness to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels.

The U.S. president has reportedly not decided yet whether to continue to pursue a diplomatic path or to order new major strikes on Iran.

During his visit to Washington, Netanyahu is set to attend a memorial service for the late pro-Israel U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away earlier this month.