Journalist Shirit Avitan Cohen reported today (Wednesday) that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump as soon as next week. According to the report, the meeting would focus on sensitive security issues, primarily the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire deal with Lebanon and the escalating tensions with Tehran.
Shortly after the report was published, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a firm denial. A spokesperson told our correspondent Tamir Morag: “No meeting with President Trump has been scheduled and no invitation has been received from the White House. The two leaders speak regularly, every day or two, but no meeting has been set at this time.”
On Iran, Trump today posted a photo of himself armed and issued another threat to the terror regime. He described the difficulty of reaching agreements in negotiations amid American demands: “They don’t know how to sign a non-nuclear deal,” and made clear: “They better get smart soon!”
Regarding the frozen negotiations with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier today that Trump has ordered his advisers to prepare for a prolonged siege on Iran aimed at damaging the Iranian regime’s economy and forcing it to submit to demands on the nuclear issue. According to the report, Trump decided in internal discussions to continue restricting Iran’s trade activity, primarily in oil, by blocking the movement of vessels to and from the country’s ports. In his view, the alternatives under consideration—including resuming military strikes or completely withdrawing from the confrontation—are seen as carrying higher risk.