US President Donald Trump hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to discuss the war in Iran.
They also spoke about expanding the Abraham Accords, following calls by Trump for Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel.
“It was a very positive meeting,” a person familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post. “You could see the chemistry between the leaders.”
There were no final agreements, but the parties made progress during the meeting, informed sources told the Post.
“It was an extremely positive meeting,” a senior Israeli source who was at the meeting said. “The prime minister and president held an excellent and comprehensive discussion on the key issues of the day, first and foremost Iran. The leaders reaffirmed their ironclad commitment to ensuring that Iran never has nuclear weapons.”
Separately on Tuesday, Middle Eastern diplomats said there had been progress in efforts to resolve the crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, although no final agreement was reached.
“The prime minister and the president reiterated the message that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon – whether through an agreement or otherwise,” another source said, adding that the Israeli side was also describing the meeting as positive, and that all of the issues on the agenda were reviewed.
The Israeli delegation included Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, Netanyahu’s Chief of Staff Ido Norden, Military Secretary Maj.-Gen. Guy Markizeno, and advisers Ofir Falk and Caroline Glick.
They met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Vice President JD Vance, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the talks lasted about an hour and a half and went well.
Netanyahu entered the White House through the side entrance. It was unclear whether anyone came outside to greet him.
Netanyahu would like to get Trump’s support for his reelection campaign ahead of the October 27 election, people familiar with the matter said.
Trump says he doesn't need Israel's intelligence on Pickaxe Mountain
Ahead of the meeting, Trump was asked about reports that Netanyahu planned to talk to him about work happening at Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified facility buried deep underground near one of Tehran’s main nuclear sites.
“I don’t need Bibi to tell me that,” Trump told Fox News. “Bibi’s telling me that because he wants me to stay involved.”
US relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with Trump at the White House earlier on Tuesday, have warmed as Ukraine has blunted Russian advances.
Netanyahu arrived amid growing White House frustration over the lack of progress toward a broader settlement in the Iran conflict and criticism from some of Trump’s supporters who oppose deeper US involvement in the Middle East.
Zelensky and Netanyahu attended a memorial service for senator Lindsey Graham, a hawkish Republican who was an advocate for both Israel and Ukraine in Washington, especially in getting their views heard by Trump.
Zelensky said anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with the US were the “No. 1 priority” for meetings with Trump and his team.
“Peace needs to be brought closer,” he said in a post on X/Twitter.
After his meeting with Trump, Zelensky thanked the US president for "all that we are doing together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and achieve peace."
Zelensky added that the two leaders had discussed licenses for the manufacture of Patriot interceptors, and the importance of intensifying the diplomatic process.
Air defense and drone deal
Zelensky and Trump clashed repeatedly in the early months of the US president’s second term, but relations between the two have improved in recent months as Ukraine has had greater success in the war, including with increased attacks on Russia’s oil industry.
Zelensky was expected to press Trump for urgently needed air-defense capabilities and to complete a drone deal with the US. They were expected to discuss Trump’s promise at the NATO summit to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot interceptors.