Trump, Netanyahu agree on Iran pressure, split on war
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- Trump and Netanyahu agreed at a White House meeting to intensify economic pressure on Iran by targeting its oil exports to China, relying on Trump's executive order imposing a 25% tariff on any nation doing business with Iran.
- Trump expressed willingness to negotiate a deal with Iran, telling Netanyahu “Let’s give it a shot,” while Netanyahu privately argued that any agreement is futile and seeks to drag the US into war.
- U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet Iranian officials in Geneva for a second round of negotiations, following indirect talks hosted by Oman on Feb 6.
- U.S. proposal includes a suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment for three to five years and removal of 450 kg of highly enriched uranium.
- Netanyahu is pushing to expand any deal to include curbing Iran’s ballistic missile program and severing ties with regional proxies, which analysts say is intended to ensure diplomacy fails.
- Palestinian leaders such as Mustafa Barghouti and Liqa Makki warn that Israel is using the Iran tension as a smokescreen to accelerate annexation and possible mass expulsions in the West Bank and Gaza.
- Analysts note a double standard: Israel possesses an undeclared nuclear arsenal of about 200 warheads, yet the U.S. focuses on Iran’s enrichment as a threat.
Why it matters: The divergence lets the United States keep a diplomatic channel open while Israel pushes toward conflict, raising the risk that any deal collapses and war erupts. Palestinians stand to lose further land and autonomy as Israel leverages the Iran dispute to accelerate annexation plans.
