Trump and Netanyahu Discuss Potential Agreement with Iran Amid Tensions
White House reports that discussions include nuclear program and regional security context.
The White House announced that President Donald Trump held a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a potential agreement with Iran, the situation in Gaza, and offered condolences for the deaths of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., earlier this week.
According to White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, Trump expressed a desire to reach an agreement with Iran concerning its nuclear program.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office indicated that Trump concurred on the importance of ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.
Levitt noted that Trump indicated that discussions were proceeding positively in relation to negotiations with Iran, as the fifth round of indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives is scheduled to take place in Rome on Friday, facilitated by Oman.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced that this fifth round of discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program would occur in Rome.
Reports have emerged indicating that Israel is preparing to target Iranian nuclear sites despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, leading to Iranian warnings that it would hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed concern regarding reports of Israel's alleged plans to launch attacks on Iranian nuclear installations, urging the United Nations Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency to condemn such reports firmly.
Trump has repeatedly pledged to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, emphasizing the need for a more robust agreement than the one reached during the Obama administration in 2015, from which he withdrew in 2018. During a recent visit to the Gulf, Trump suggested that Iran may have accepted key conditions, and his diplomatic approach aims to avert military conflict.
The U.S. delegation includes Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, a State Department official handling technical aspects of the negotiations.
Both sides face the challenge of reaching an agreement concerning uranium enrichment, which has become a significant point of contention.
While the 2015 agreement permitted low-level enrichment for civilian use up to 3.67% purity and capped stockpiles at 300 kilograms, Iran is currently enriching uranium up to 60% purity, which remains below the 90% threshold necessary for weapon-grade material.
The latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated Iran's enriched uranium stockpile at approximately 830 kilograms.
U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to initiate a nuclear weapons program but has engaged in activities that would enable it to produce a nuclear weapon if it chose to do so.
Witkoff stated last weekend that the U.S. administration seeks a complete halt to uranium enrichment.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated this stance during testimony before Congress, asserting that the administration's demand is for Iran to cease all uranium enrichment activities.
Rubio stated, "Iran cannot possess enrichment capability, as it would ultimately lead to a nuclear power on the brink of success." He also noted that the U.S. would maintain sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile development, a topic not explicitly addressed in the 2015 agreement, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding Iran's regional activities.
According to White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, Trump expressed a desire to reach an agreement with Iran concerning its nuclear program.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office indicated that Trump concurred on the importance of ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.
Levitt noted that Trump indicated that discussions were proceeding positively in relation to negotiations with Iran, as the fifth round of indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives is scheduled to take place in Rome on Friday, facilitated by Oman.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced that this fifth round of discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program would occur in Rome.
Reports have emerged indicating that Israel is preparing to target Iranian nuclear sites despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, leading to Iranian warnings that it would hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed concern regarding reports of Israel's alleged plans to launch attacks on Iranian nuclear installations, urging the United Nations Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency to condemn such reports firmly.
Trump has repeatedly pledged to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, emphasizing the need for a more robust agreement than the one reached during the Obama administration in 2015, from which he withdrew in 2018. During a recent visit to the Gulf, Trump suggested that Iran may have accepted key conditions, and his diplomatic approach aims to avert military conflict.
The U.S. delegation includes Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, a State Department official handling technical aspects of the negotiations.
Both sides face the challenge of reaching an agreement concerning uranium enrichment, which has become a significant point of contention.
While the 2015 agreement permitted low-level enrichment for civilian use up to 3.67% purity and capped stockpiles at 300 kilograms, Iran is currently enriching uranium up to 60% purity, which remains below the 90% threshold necessary for weapon-grade material.
The latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated Iran's enriched uranium stockpile at approximately 830 kilograms.
U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to initiate a nuclear weapons program but has engaged in activities that would enable it to produce a nuclear weapon if it chose to do so.
Witkoff stated last weekend that the U.S. administration seeks a complete halt to uranium enrichment.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated this stance during testimony before Congress, asserting that the administration's demand is for Iran to cease all uranium enrichment activities.
Rubio stated, "Iran cannot possess enrichment capability, as it would ultimately lead to a nuclear power on the brink of success." He also noted that the U.S. would maintain sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile development, a topic not explicitly addressed in the 2015 agreement, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding Iran's regional activities.
