Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to urge US President Donald Trump to adopt a more aggressive approach towards Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs during a hastily arranged meeting at the White House on Wednesday. The visit, reported by AFP, comes as Netanyahu rushes to Washington to bolster Trump's resolve amid ongoing nuclear negotiations with Tehran.
Trump Considers Military Pressure
On the eve of the meeting, scheduled to begin at 11am, Trump revealed he is considering deploying a second US "armada" to the Middle East. This move aims to pressure Iran into reaching a nuclear deal, highlighting the escalating tensions in the region.
Netanyahu's Diplomatic Push
Netanyahu, making his sixth visit to the United States since Trump took office, will specifically push for a harder line on Iran's ballistic missile program. This visit was originally planned for 19 February for Trump's 'Board of Peace' meeting on Gaza but was brought forward as US-Iran talks progressed.
Iran's Defiant Stance
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Wednesday that his country "will not yield to excessive demands" regarding its nuclear program, though he emphasized Iran is not seeking atomic weapons. Tehran had previously warned of "destructive influences" on diplomacy ahead of Netanyahu's visit, following resumed talks with Washington in Oman last week.
Other Political Developments
In related news, Trump is also due to meet with special envoy to the UK Mark Burnett later today. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi will face questions from lawmakers over the Justice Department's handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Additional developments include federal prosecutors failing to convince a grand jury to indict six Democratic lawmakers over a social media video reminding service members they are not required to follow illegal orders. The New York Times reports that Trump's sudden opposition to a new publicly owned bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, came after a Republican donor who owns a private rival bridge met with Trump's commerce secretary.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are attempting to explain to Trump that his reasons for threatening to block the bridge are untrue, noting Canada paid for it and the US shares ownership. In a separate incident, Republican Congressman Mark Alford from Missouri said "we are still investigating" the lyrics of a song performed by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl halftime show.
As the US Supreme Court prepares to rule on Trump's power to impose tariffs based on a self-declared economic emergency, the president confirmed in an interview that he sets tariff rates partly based on his feelings about other nations' leaders.
