Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed U.S. President Donald Trump during their February 10, 2026, White House meeting to uphold Israel's red lines, especially freedom of military action against Iran regardless of any U.S.-Iran deal. The closed-door talks, lasting over 2.5 hours, centered on Netanyahu's "evidence file" exposing Iran's negotiation deceptions, protest crackdowns, and refusal to address missiles or proxies beyond nuclear issues.
Meeting Highlights
Netanyahu demanded assurances for unrestricted Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, even post-deal, citing 2,000 impending ballistic missiles likened to "small nuclear bombs." Trump responded positively but noncommittally, tweeting that talks were productive and negotiations would continue to test a nuclear- and missile-free accord. U.S. envoys like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had pre-briefed Israel on Oman talks, setting the stage amid U.S. military reinforcements.
Strategic Analyses
Hebrew media analyses predict talks' collapse due to Iran's rigidity, paving the way for high-impact U.S.-Israel strikes. A U.S. official clarified joint action remains viable if diplomacy fails, despite pressures from Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Trump's diplomatic-leaning base. Experts warn any deal could echo JCPOA limits on Israeli preemption, urging Trump to reject concessions on Iran's domestic atrocities and proxy threats.
Regional Implications
As their seventh meeting since Trump's 2025 inauguration, it underscores aligned goals—no Iranian nukes or enrichment—but highlights tensions over Trump's deal preference versus Netanyahu's action freedom. Israeli sources see Netanyahu leveraging intelligence to bolster deterrence, amid U.S. carrier and Patriot deployments signaling readiness.