Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss potential military options against Iran with US President Donald Trump during talks in Washington this week, as Israel prepares contingency plans in case renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran fail.
Israeli officials say Jerusalem remains deeply skeptical about the chances of success in the emerging US–Iran talks and is seeking assurances that its security interests will be protected. Netanyahu is also focused on preserving Israel’s freedom to act militarily under any future agreement.
According to reports, Netanyahu plans to present Trump with updated intelligence assessments on Iran’s military capabilities, particularly concerns about Tehran’s efforts to rebuild its ballistic missile arsenal following last year’s brief conflict.
Israel estimates that without intervention, Iran could restore its missile stockpile to between 1,800 and 2,000 ballistic missiles within weeks or months, the sources said. Those claims could not be independently verified, and Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that while Iran does not seek war, it is prepared for one.
Speaking before departing for Washington, Netanyahu said Iran would be the top priority in his meeting with Trump, describing it as the most pressing issue facing both countries.
“We will discuss a number of issues — Gaza, the region, but first and foremost, the negotiations with Iran,” Netanyahu said. “I will present our position on the principles that are essential not only for Israel’s security, but for stability across the Middle East.”
The meeting comes after a flurry of high-level contacts between Israeli and US security officials. Senior Israeli military and intelligence leaders recently held meetings at the Pentagon, while US envoys met Netanyahu and his top advisers in Jerusalem.
Israel has been pushing for any agreement with Iran to go beyond the nuclear issue, insisting that Tehran should abandon uranium enrichment, dismantle its enriched uranium stockpile, limit its ballistic missile program and end support for regional proxy groups.
Iran, however, has maintained that it is only willing to negotiate over its nuclear program. Over the weekend, Trump signaled flexibility on that point, suggesting a nuclear-only deal could be acceptable provided Iran is barred from developing nuclear weapons.
Israeli analysts warn that such a narrow agreement would be Netanyahu’s worst-case outcome. Some experts say the Israeli leader would prefer either decisive US military action against Iran or a sweeping deal that severely restricts Iran’s military and defensive capabilities.
Netanyahu has long criticized the 2015 nuclear agreement reached under former US President Barack Obama, arguing it left Iran’s military power largely intact and allowed uranium enrichment to resume after time limits expired. A similar deal under Trump could place Netanyahu in a difficult political position.
Tensions between Israel and Iran escalated last year when Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities disrupted ongoing US–Iran talks. That confrontation ended after Trump intervened to halt further Israeli attacks.
