Trump, Netanyahu to huddle at White House, plot future of air war against Iran

President Trump on Tuesday will have his first face-to-face sit-down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the outbreak of hostilities with Iran in late February.

The talks at the White House are expected to focus heavily on the pause in U.S. airstrikes on Iran, strategic negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and broader Middle East security matters, including Israeli operations in Lebanon and the West Bank.

“We will discuss all the issues on the table, with Iran at the forefront,” Mr. Netanyahu said before leaving for Washington. “Our goal is clear: to safeguard Israel’s security, strengthen its power, and expand the circle of peace around us.”

Both leaders are facing tough electoral challenges in the months ahead. Republicans hold slim majorities in Congress. Mr. Netanyahu is up against former Israel Defense Forces chief Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, in Israel’s general election on Oct. 27.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu will also discuss expanding the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements brokered by the U.S. in 2020 that established formal diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, a White House official said.

Whatever else they discuss, the Iran war remains the top issue for both the U.S. and Israel.

“For President Trump, the meeting with Netanyahu will be all about making sure that Israel stays in line with U.S. strategy toward Iran, because, since the start of the war, we’ve seen Washington and Jerusalem drift apart on how they see the Iranian problem and how each would like the current war to be concluded,” said Ilan Berman, senior vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council.

Mr. Netanyahu’s priority will be to reinforce his government’s freedom to deal with threats such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, “which the Iranians have attempted to make an integral part of their negotiations with the White House,” Mr. Berman said.

Mr. Trump on Monday kept his military options on the table but in reserve, allowing diplomatic efforts to end fighting that has choked crucial oil-shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are having deep talks with Iran. If they are not successful, we will return to powerful military action,” Mr. Trump told Israel’s News 12 on Monday. “Either [negotiations] will move quickly, or it will not happen at all.”

Iran said any claims that it is involved in talks with the U.S. were “fabricated” and called reports of a new ceasefire “media speculation.” During a press conference in Tehran, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the government’s current focus was on defense rather than negotiations.

He said the only country Iran is having ongoing discussions with is Oman over the Strait of Hormuz and claimed the U.S. wants to control ship traffic through the choke point.

“The United States, in collaboration with certain regional countries, deliberately diverted ships from the safe northern route of the Strait of Hormuz to the unsafe southern route,” Mr. Baqaei said, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency. “Qatar, Saudi, and Emirati ships had turned off their tracking systems on the same specific day [which is] completely contrary to the [Memorandum of Understanding] and indicative of coordination with the U.S.”

Houthi rebels in Yemen, who control large sections of the country, declared a naval blockade and maritime embargo on July 20 that was intended to restrict Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis said the restrictions were in retaliation for Saudi blockades on Yemeni ports and airports. Although the ban was directed against Saudi ship traffic, analysts noted an immediate drop in cargo vessels from other countries transiting through the waterway.

The U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. It aimed to destroy Iran’s ballistic missiles, dismantle the country’s naval and defense infrastructure, and stop Tehran’s nuclear program. Major combat operations concluded after a 38-day ceasefire.

“Everyone involved in the negotiations with Iran has asked me, ‘Don’t shoot.’ There’s nothing to gain and nothing to lose,” Mr. Trump told News 12.

Iran has carried out drone and missile strikes on several countries in the region since the start of the joint U.S. and Israeli air campaign. Tehran said any country that cooperated with Washington or Jerusalem was complicit in the war and could be targeted.

The most recent direct attack on Bahrain by Iran occurred last Friday when drone strikes targeted U.S. military facilities at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. Air raid warning sirens sounded across the island kingdom, and explosions were reported near the capital, Manama.

On Monday, Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as a “flagrant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty, a blatant threat to the security of citizens and residents, and a serious breach of international norms.” They said Tehran bears full responsibility for undermining peace efforts.

“Peace cannot be achieved through intimidation, nor can security be imposed through aggression,” foreign ministry officials said, according to the official Bahrain News Agency. “Bahrain’s resolve remains unwavering in the face of all threats. Its national unity cannot be undermined by those who believe that continued aggression can force the Kingdom to abandon its principles or weaken its determination.”

• Tom Howell Jr. contributed to this story.