Monday 09/February/2026 – 03:31 AM
Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to make an important visit to Washington, amid escalating tensions over the Iranian file, a week before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee AIPAC conference. The timing of the visit comes at a sensitive time, coinciding with the Amman negotiations, amid ambiguity in the American president’s position regarding a possible military strike against Iran, which raised questions about the goals of the real meeting between the two leaders.
According to Israeli media, during the meeting, Netanyahu seeks to prevent any limited agreement with Iran that focuses only on the nuclear program, stressing the necessity of including restrictions on the Iranian ballistic missile program, and stopping Tehran’s support for what is known as the axis of resistance, which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and what Netanyahu calls the various militias in Iraq and Syria, in addition to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Trump and Netanyahu’s meeting: political pressure or a prelude to a military strike against Iran?
In an analysis of the expected scenarios for the visit, the Hebrew media reported that Netanyahu may seek to obstruct any limited agreement between Washington and Tehran, and coordinate steps with Trump behind the scenes that include a joint strategy to deal with Iran, in addition to discussing the possible military option if diplomatic negotiations fail, which would put the United States before a new reality in the region.
According to the Hebrew media journalist, observers pointed out that Trump’s recent statements, in which he affirmed that the Iranians desperately want to reach an agreement, did not end Israeli concern, especially with the US administration’s warnings that the president has many options beyond diplomacy, in an implicit reference to American military power.
At the same time, it appears that Trump prefers a diplomatic solution first, but he is waving the option of using force, which reflects the United States’ continuation of the dual pressure policy, which is economic and political negotiation on the one hand, and moving a possible military option on the other hand.
The most sensitive question remains, as posed by some Israeli media, “Will Netanyahu’s visit be merely an attempt to redefine the terms of the Iranian agreement, or is it a prelude to coordinating a possible military move between Washington and Tel Aviv?” It is expected that the discussion between Trump and Netanyahu will include, in addition to the nuclear file, the Iranian missile program, support for armed groups, and Tehran’s regional influence, which indicates that the region may be on the verge of a new phase of tension.
