Netanyahu to meet US President Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday about the US talks with Iran, his office said , as concerns remain high about possible regional conflict. “The prime minister believes that all negotiations must include limiting the ballistic missiles and ending support for the Iranian axis,” Netanyahu's office said in a brief statement. The US and Iran held indirect talks on Friday in Oman that appeared to return to the starting point on how to approach discussions over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Trump said the United States had “very good” talks and said more were planned for early next week. The US was represented by Mideast special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.  Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to reach a deal on the nuclear programme after earlier sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships to the region amid Tehran's crackdown on nationwide protests that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands of others detained.

Gulf Arab nations fear an attack could spark a regional war that would drag them in as well, with memories fresh of Israel launching its 12-day war on Iran last June. For the first time in negotiations with Iran, the US on Friday brought its top military commander in the Middle East to the table. US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the military's Central Command, then visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday with Witkoff and Kushner, the command said in a statement.