Netanyahu and Trump to discuss stalled Iran nuclear talks in Washington

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

WASHINGTON, USA — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday to address the latest developments regarding Iran's nuclear program. The high-level meeting comes on the heels of indirect talks between the United States and Iran held in Oman on Friday, which reportedly faced significant hurdles.

According to a brief statement from Netanyahu's office, the Israeli leader maintains that "any negotiation must include the limitation of ballistic missile capabilities and the cessation of Iran's support for militant groups in the region." The statement also referenced the "Iranian axis" to describe Tehran's network of allies across the Middle East.

Stalled talks in Oman

Indirect negotiations between the US and Iran regarding Tehran's nuclear ambitions took place in Oman on Friday. However, reports suggest that the talks may have reverted to square one due to disagreements over negotiation methods. Despite this, President Trump described the discussions as "very good" and indicated that new contacts are planned for early next week.

Washington was represented at the talks by Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The diplomatic push occurs amidst heightened tensions, as the US administration recently deployed several warships, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, to the region following harsh crackdowns on protests within Iran.

Iran's firm stance

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that Iran's missile program would "never be a subject of negotiation." Highlighting a "very deep mistrust" between the parties due to previous negotiation breakdowns, Araghchi pointed to the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities during last year's Israel-Iran clashes as a key factor.

Araghchi warned that any US attack on Iranian soil would result in the targeting of American bases in the region. While he described the recent talks as a "good start," he emphasized that there is a "long way to go" to build trust, adding that contacts would resume soon.

The Iranian minister also criticized what he termed the "domination doctrine," accusing the West of allowing Israel to expand its military capabilities while forcing other countries in the region to disarm.

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