The Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Benjamin Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump is not routine, says geopolitical analyst Ilan Scialom, calling it a “high-stakes preventive diplomatic strike” to secure Israel’s strategic priorities ahead of potential Iran talks.
Speaking to AnewZ from France, Scialom noted that while Netanyahu and Trump have met multiple times this year, their seventh meeting carries added significance, as the context has shifted radically since the recent Oman talks with Iran.
He said Netanyahu’s objective is to ensure that Trump’s maximum pressure policy against Tehran remains absolute and to “lock in Israel’s red lines, specifically ballistic missiles, before any deal is finalised.”
According to the analyst, the visit is about “total strategic synchronisation” and guarantees that Israel and the U.S. are aligned before broader diplomatic processes, such as the Board of Peace talks, officially begin.
He warned that Netanyahu’s intervention could significantly affect the negotiations with Tehran. “From a Tehran perspective, Netanyahu isn’t just an observer, he’s a diplomatic saboteur,” Scialom said.
By publicly demanding that the U.S. include ballistic missiles and proxy considerations, Israel is effectively “moving the goalposts in a way that Iran has already called a non-starter.”
Scialom also highlighted internal U.S. dynamics, noting that Netanyahu is not only lobbying Trump but also challenging members of the president’s own team, including Jared Kushner and Whitkoff, who are seen as more receptive to a nuclear-first approach.
“If Netanyahu succeeds in hardening Trump’s resolve, he might inadvertently collapse the Oman process. The alternative would then be further sanctions and with the second U.S. armada on the way, the risk is kinetic escalation.”
Scialom concluded that the visit demonstrates Israel’s determination to influence the U.S.-Iran strategic calculus, while also underscoring the delicate balance Washington must maintain between allied priorities and broader diplomatic objectives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington comes as U.S. and Iranian officials resumed indirect nuclear negotiations in Oman earlier this month.
The talks follow months of heightened tensions, including a 12‑day conflict between Iran and Israel last year and renewed efforts by Washington to press Tehran on its nuclear programme.
Netanyahu is expected to urge President Trump to expand the scope of negotiations beyond Iran’s nuclear activities to include its ballistic missile development and support for regional militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah - demands Tehran has repeatedly signalled it is unwilling to accept.
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Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remained severe throughout 2025, with millions still struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
Chinese authorities have quietly signalled a shift in strategy, instructing some state-owned banks to rein in their purchases of U.S. government bonds.
U.S. military forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon said on Monday.
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Kyiv is preparing to outline a simultaneous return to the ballot box and a public vote on a potential peace settlement, the Financial Times reports. It would mark a pivotal shift in the country's political landscape on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 11th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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