Netanyahu to meet Trump with Iran missiles top of the list

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday the top priority in his talks with US President Donald Trump would be the ongoing negotiations with Iran, as he presses for a tougher US approach to Tehran’s ballistic missile programme.

So far, Iran has rejected expanding the scope of its talks with the US beyond the issue of its nuclear programme, though Washington also wants Tehran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for regional militant groups on the table.

The two leaders are to meet in Washington on Wednesday, their sixth such encounter in the United States since Trump returned to office a year ago.

They also met in Jerusalem in October when Trump announced a ceasefire in Gaza.

Wednesday’s meeting comes days after arch-foes Iran and the United States held talks in Oman, after which Trump said another round of negotiations would follow.

Netanyahu and Trump will also meet amid growing international outrage over Israeli measures to tighten control of the occupied West Bank by allowing settlers to buy land directly from its Palestinian owners.

However, it remains unclear whether the issue will be raised in their talks, despite Trump’s past opposition to any annexation of the West Bank.

“On this trip we will discuss a range of issues: Gaza, the region, but of course first and foremost the negotiations with Iran,” Netanyahu said, in a video statement before his departure.

“I will present to the president our views regarding the principles for the negotiations.”