Washington, United States. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed diplomatic, economic and military options for curbing Iran’s nuclear programme during a White House meeting, a senior Israeli official said on Wednesday.
The official said Netanyahu did not tell Trump that Israel preferred further military strikes against Iran, stressing that the final decision rests with the US president.
Options discussed
Speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s meeting, the official said Trump was considering three options: reaching a deal, maintaining a blockade and economic pressure, or carrying out what the official described as “a massive strike”.
Netanyahu presented additional proposals during the talks, although the official did not provide details.
“The final decision is his,” the official said, referring to Trump.
Intelligence and diplomacy
Reports before the meeting said Trump had been frustrated after details emerged about Netanyahu’s plans to discuss new intelligence concerning Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear-related facility that Trump has previously threatened to bomb.
The Israeli official dismissed suggestions of tension between the leaders, saying the two allies regularly share intelligence. The official denied that Netanyahu had pressed Trump to escalate military action and said a diplomatic solution remained possible.
The official described Trump as the “senior partner” and Netanyahu as the “junior partner” in the allies’ approach to Iran.
Economic and security concerns
The official said there were indications that Iran’s leadership had been unsettled by rising inflation and increasing public frustration. The potential effects on the global economy and oil markets remained an important consideration, the official added.
Oil prices rose sharply on Wednesday, one of the largest increases since the conflict began on February 28 with a joint Israeli and US aerial campaign against Iran. Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and Gulf states.
Israel did not take part in the latest two-week US bombing campaign earlier this month, which led Iran to attack US military bases. Israeli officials have nevertheless warned that any future Iranian attack would prompt a strong response.
