As the United States and Iran have paused military hostilities after 13 days of conflict, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet to discuss the future of the Iran war and potential responses.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu will meet with Trump at the White House on July 28. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the Iran war began in February.
U.S. forces conducted attacks on Iranian military facilities and coastal infrastructure from July 11 to July 23. In retaliation, Iran targeted U.S. military bases in the Middle East with missiles and drones.
On July 24, Trump did not approve additional airstrikes, and Iran stated it would refrain from retaliation while U.S. attacks were halted. However, neither side has agreed to a formal ceasefire.
The U.S. and Iran are currently communicating through intermediaries, including Oman. The immediate focus of discussions is not the Iranian nuclear issue but rather ensuring the safe passage of vessels through the Hormuz Strait.
Negotiations are exploring a framework where Iran would manage the passage of ships through the Strait without blocking or attacking commercial vessels. Normalizing traffic through the Strait could alleviate rising international oil prices and logistical disruptions.
However, the U.S. maritime blockade against Iran remains in effect. U.S. forces are redirecting vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and conducting inspections on some ships. While airstrikes have ceased, military tensions have not fully dissipated.
Trump appears to prioritize resolving the Hormuz Strait issue before addressing Iran's nuclear program in subsequent negotiations. He has maintained that if talks fail, airstrikes could resume.
Netanyahu holds a more hardline stance, asserting that the war can only end if Iran is weakened to the point where it cannot pursue its nuclear program or attempt to develop nuclear weapons.
Nonetheless, he has not opposed diplomatic solutions. Netanyahu expressed support for Trump if he can halt Iran's nuclear program without large-scale military conflict, indicating he is more interested in hearing Trump's plans than presenting new information during their meeting.
Both leaders agree on the necessity of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. However, while Trump favors phased negotiations, Netanyahu insists on the complete elimination of Iran's nuclear capabilities, highlighting a divergence in their approaches.
If negotiations break down, discussions may also address the scope of Israel's military involvement. Trump has indicated he is considering a larger-scale attack on Iran than what was planned at the onset of the war in February, stating that Israel could participate immediately if requested.
Iran has warned that if the U.S. resumes airstrikes, the conflict could expand further. The Iranian military stated, "The battlefield has extended beyond the Hormuz Strait to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and U.S. military bases in the Gulf region," asserting that they are prepared for all scenarios.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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