US and Israel to hold high-level talks on Iran’s nuclear program at White House

Senior officials from the United States and Israel are scheduled to meet at the White House early next week to hold high-level talks on Iran's nuclear program. The meeting comes after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran's leadership earlier this month, presenting Tehran with a choice: to negotiate a nuclear deal with the United States, or face possible military action.

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi will spearhead the meeting with senior U.S. officials that will cover “several bilateral issues,” according to an Israeli official.

The issues will include the Iranian nuclear program, the possibility of U.S.-Iran talks, the war in Lebanon, and upcoming negotiations between Israel and Lebanon on establishing an internationally recognized border between the two countries.

Officials from Israel’s National Security Council, the IDF, the Mossad, the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Agency will meet with U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other senior U.S. intelligence and defense officials, including representatives from the Pentagon and the State Department.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded to Trump’s letter earlier in March, stating that Tehran will “not be bullied into negotiations.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi followed that response on Thursday, promising that Tehran would consider the "opportunities" – as well as the threats – stated in Trump's letter.

Last year, Israeli strikes on Iranian missile factories and air defense systems drastically reduced Tehran’s military capabilities, according to U.S. officials. The strike came after Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel.

Trump has given Tehran a two-month window to negotiate a new nuclear deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a joint course of action with the United States should things escalate to military force, according to Israeli officials.

This will be the first meeting of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) since Trump assumed office in January.

The SCG was formed in 2009 during the Obama administration under the code name "Opal." It was originally established to coordinate U.S.-Israeli strategy on Iran's nuclear program, share intelligence assessments and coordinate policy and operations in the region.

After the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the SCG enlarged its scope to include discussions about the war in Gaza and on the Israel-Lebanon border.