Trump and Netanyahu meet to discuss Iran options

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Tuesday, July -, 2026, to discuss strategy on Iran, exploring options ranging from diplomacy to military escalation but reaching no final decision. The meeting, their first since joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, focused on how to address Iran's nuclear program amid ongoing regional conflict.

According to a senior Israeli official briefed on the discussions, the leaders considered three broad paths forward: pursuing a negotiated agreement with Tehran, maintaining the existing naval blockade while increasing economic pressure, or resuming and expanding large-scale military strikes. The official stated that Netanyahu expressed skepticism about Iran's willingness to agree to a viable deal that would halt its nuclear ambitions but did not press Trump to choose military escalation. The final decision, the official emphasized, rests with the U.S. president.

The diplomatic option involves continued negotiations by U.S. envoys, though significant gaps reportedly remain between the two sides. Netanyahu argued that any talks must be accompanied by sustained, strong pressure...