US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met face-to-face at the White House for the first time since the start of joint military operations against Iran.
After the meeting, Netanyahu said that the two countries have a full partnership and mutual understanding to prevent Iran’s nuclear program.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted about an hour and a half, was described as “positive and productive” by White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt on Tuesday (July 28). Trump later described the meeting on social media as “very good” and said that several important issues were discussed. He did not provide any details.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Netanyahu made it clear during the meeting that Israel would respond if Iran attacked it, but that Tel Aviv would trust President Trump’s decision on next steps.
In a message on Instagram after the meeting, Netanyahu said that this was not just a formal meeting; rather, there were fruitful discussions between the two countries on the full partnership, mutual support, and the common goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The meeting comes at a time when both leaders are under political pressure in their respective countries. Netanyahu is facing criticism over his relationship with Trump as he prepares for re-election, while Trump is dealing with domestic pressure over the economic impact of the war and inflation ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.