Trump and Netanyahu hold 'positive' White House talks amid deepening rift over Iran

Behind closed doors

The meeting, which lasted 90 minutes with no media access, brought together President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It was Netanyahu's eighth visit to the Trump White House and the first since the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran began in February.

A "positive" message

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt posted on X that Trump's Oval Office talks with both Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Netanyahu were "positive and constructive." No further details were released. Afterwards Netanyahu released a video message calling the session excellent.

“When I say excellent, I don't mean superficially. It was a conversation with complete unanimity, mutual support and a common understanding of the goal to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons, as well as other objectives. It was one of the best conversations I have ever had with the president of the United States, our friend Donald Trump.”

The Iran divide

Behind the public positivity, the two leaders remain at odds over next steps. Since last Friday, the US has halted airstrikes on Iranian targets while pursuing "in-depth" diplomacy. Netanyahu, however, used the meeting to present Israeli intelligence and argue that only renewed military pressure can stop Tehran's nuclear programme. Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu believes "there is no other option" than attacking again, targeting sites not hit before, rebuilt facilities and targets that could undermine the regime's stability.

“We have a small difference, and we are pretty close.”

An Israeli official said after the meeting that Trump would "soon decide which direction to follow" and added, "We are not pressing him, but we are not burying our heads in the sand."

What comes next

The prime minister's team signalled relief that no US demands for Israeli concessions in Syria or Lebanon were raised during the talks, a development Israeli officials called "very pleasant news." Behind the scenes, Netanyahu is also seeking Trump's support for his reelection bid in the 27 October Israeli elections, per Reuters. The prime minister's communications director, Gipie Chotoveli, insisted that "the prime minister does not dictate to the US president what to do, nor try to steer him in any direction" on Iran, adding that "both sides seek to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and there are many ways to achieve that goal."