Netanyahu urges Trump to broaden Iran talks to include missiles and proxies

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent nearly three hours in a closed‑door meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, pressing Washington to widen its emerging talks with Iran beyond the nuclear file to cover ballistic missiles, proxy networks and other security threats.

Netanyahu arrived for the low‑profile visit on Feb. 11 and was not met by the White House press pool in the Oval Office. A handshake photograph released by the Israeli Embassy accompanied a short statement from his office stressing “the security needs of the State of Israel in the context of the negotiations.” Netanyahu told aides before departing that “I will present to the president our outlook regarding the principles of these negotiations.”

The meeting was moved forward from Feb. 18 amid renewed indirect U.S.‑Iran talks held in Oman, where officials from both sides described the initial round as positive and said further talks were expected. Netanyahu has lobbied U.S. interlocutors to ensure those future sessions address Tehran’s missile program and its support for armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, arguing that Israel’s security imperatives cannot be confined to enrichment limits.

President Trump described the encounter as “a very good meeting” and said afterward, “We discussed the tremendous progress being made in Gaza, and the Region in general.” He has also voiced openness to broadening the agenda, saying any comprehensive deal should cover Iran’s nuclear program and expressing that it was a “no‑brainer” to include consideration of missile stockpiles. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signaled that Washington sees the negotiations as likely to touch on missiles, proxy groups and Iran’s treatment of its own population.

Tehran, however, has been firm that recent talks focused only on nuclear issues. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, asserted that “The Islamic Republic's missile capabilities are non‑negotiable.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned his country would “not yield to their excessive demands,” signalling a potential impasse if American negotiators broaden the agenda.

Beyond Iran, Gaza and the stalled implementation of a 20‑point ceasefire and reconstruction plan were central to the discussion. Negotiators in Washington and Jerusalem remain at odds over key steps such as disarmament of Hamas and phased Israeli troop withdrawals, complicating recovery and aid plans for Gaza even as U.S. officials try to shepherd a fragile truce.

Netanyahu’s White House visit followed preparatory meetings with U.S. special envoys and advisers, and came against a backdrop of heightened military activity in the region, including a noticeable buildup of U.S. assets. The prime minister’s intervention reflects a strategic aim not merely to align Israel with U.S. policy but to help shape the terms of a potential bargain with Tehran.

Analysts and former officials caution that Washington faces a delicate calculation. “I don't think Trump wants a major military confrontation with Iran going into an election year,” one former U.S. envoy observed, underlining how domestic politics and regional risk are entwined as negotiators weigh whether to confine dialogue to nuclear constraints or press for a broader security compact.

No major decisions were announced after the meeting. Officials said further diplomatic rounds are expected as the United States and Iran continue indirect exchanges, while Israel presses for an expanded framework that Tehran has already signalled it may reject.