As tensions with Iran accelerate, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are preparing for what Israeli officials describe as a “strategy-shaping session” in Washington. The talks are not limited to diplomacy alone. While negotiations between the US and Iran continue through intermediaries in Oman, both leaders are expected to assess fallback options should those talks collapse—including the potential for direct military action. The presence of senior military and national security officials underscores that this meeting is about outcomes, not optics.

Publicly, the White House continues to speak the language of diplomacy. Vice President JD Vance has emphasized that President Trump seeks a “meaningful deal,” one that would restrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions while benefiting all parties involved. Yet parallel actions tell a more sobering story. The US has warned American-flagged vessels to avoid Iranian waters near the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran has responded by hardening its demands—offering limited nuclear concessions only in exchange for the full removal of sanctions. Behind closed doors, US officials are pressing Tehran to arrive at the next round of talks with substantive concessions, signaling that patience is wearing thin.

SOURCE: JP