Trump and Netanyahu Hold 90-Minute Meeting... Despite "Best Conversation," Differences Remain Over Iran Strategy

[Financial News, New York = Reporter Lee Byung-chul] Donald Trump, the U.S. president, and Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, held a closed-door summit at The White House for about 90 minutes on the 28th local time and discussed Iran's nuclear issue and the situation in the Middle East. Both sides described the meeting as "very productive," but subtle differences over how to respond to Iran also resurfaced.
This was the first summit between the two countries since the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran in February. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the meeting lasted about an hour and 30 minutes and was "positive and productive." She did not disclose the specific details of the talks.
Shortly after the meeting, Netanyahu wrote on social media that it was "not just a formal expression, but truly the best meeting," adding that the two sides reaffirmed their shared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and had a very good conversation built on mutual trust and cooperation. He also stressed that it was "one of the best meetings I have had with President Trump."
However, differences between the two countries were also exposed ahead of the meeting.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump expressed frustration that Netanyahu wanted to publicly cite an assessment by Israeli intelligence on the suspected Iranian nuclear site known as Pickaxe Mountain. He said, "I know exactly what's going on at Pickaxe Mountain," and added, "What Iran is doing is not a big issue. Bibi is saying those things because he wants me to stay involved."
A day before the meeting, Trump also acknowledged the subtle gap in views, telling reporters, "There are a few differences of opinion on Iran, but we are almost on the same page."
Diplomatic observers say the meeting was not only a chance to reaffirm the alliance between the two countries, but also a symbolic scene showing that the initiative on Iran has shifted to the United States. Israel wants to expand military operations against Iran and Hezbollah, the pro-Iranian armed group in Lebanon, while Trump is also pursuing the possibility of talks with Tehran, taking into account the economic burden of a prolonged war and pushback from Middle East allies.
Israeli political commentator Amit Segal told the daily Israel Hayom that "the United States is making it clear to Israel that it is leading the war" and that "Israel has been pushed into the back seat."
The two leaders are also said to have discussed a security cooperation framework with Lebanon, the expansion of the Abraham Accords, and plans for rebuilding the Gaza Strip and deploying an international stabilization force.
Israel has recently agreed to a pilot program allowing Lebanese troops to be deployed in parts of southern Lebanon, and it is also partly aligning itself with the diplomatic approach pursued by the United States by approving limited entry of an international stabilization force into the Gaza Strip.



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