US President Donald Trump (R) receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington on February 11, 2026Image: XINHUA
Feb 11, 2026, 10:28 p.mFeb 11, 2026, 10:28 p.m
According to his own words, US President Donald Trump made it clear at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would continue to rely on negotiations in the Iran conflict. He “insisted” that negotiations with Iran continue to find out whether a deal can be reached, the Republican wrote on the Truth Social platform. If so, that would be his preferred option. Given the tense situation in the Middle East and the increased risk of war, Israeli media described the meeting as groundbreaking.
The seventh meeting between the two since Trump took office came a few days after US and Iranian representatives began new negotiations in Oman’s capital Muscat last week. Trump then held out the prospect of a continuation – an exact date for this has not yet been set.
Pakistani Shia Muslims hold placards and banners during a rally to show solidarity with Iran on the anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution.Image: keystone
Israel has repeatedly warned against an agreement with Iran that is limited only to its nuclear program. The Jewish state sees its existence threatened by the program. At the same time, Israel is also demanding that Iran reduce its ballistic missile arsenal and support for its anti-Israel allies in the region. Tehran, on the other hand, only wants to negotiate its nuclear program.
Trump alludes to military attacks after Netanyahu meeting
After the meeting with Netanyahu in the White House, Trump spoke of a “very good meeting” in which, however, nothing definitive was agreed – apart from his insistence on negotiations. The last time Iran decided against an agreement and was then hit by US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump wrote. That wasn’t good for Iran. “Hopefully they will be more sensible and responsible this time.”
Despite negotiations, war broke out in 2025
Washington and Tehran had already been negotiating Iran’s controversial nuclear program last year, but the talks had stalled on key issues. Israel then attacked Iran just one day before the planned sixth round of negotiations began in June 2025. The Islamic Republic’s armed forces responded with rocket fire. Less than a week later, the US military joined the war and bombed key nuclear facilities. Trump said at the time that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been completely destroyed.
The new negotiations also come against the backdrop of an increased US military presence in the Middle East. Trump also initiated this because there were mass protests in Iran in January, which the state security apparatus brutally suppressed. Trump then threatened the Iranian leadership with military intervention and strengthened the US military presence in the region, including with the aircraft carrier “USS Abraham Lincoln”. In an interview with the US news portal Axios, Trump recently said that he was considering sending another aircraft carrier to the region.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.Image: keystone
What is Israel’s position on the new negotiations?
During the conversation with Trump, Netanyahu emphasized his country’s security needs with a view to the new negotiations with Iran. Netanyahu’s office said after the meeting that it was also about the Gaza Strip and the situation in the region. He agreed with Trump to “continue close coordination and close contact between them.”
Several Israeli media outlets reported that Israel believes war with Iran is inevitable and ultimately only a matter of time. The reason given was Tehran’s intransigent stance in the negotiations. (sda/dpa)