US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a “productive” 90-minute meeting in the Oval Office, seeking to project unity over the Iran war despite tensions that have strained their relationship in recent weeks.
The closed-door talks came after Trump had publicly expressed frustration with Netanyahu’s approach to the conflict several times, including shortly before the Israeli leader arrived at the White House. The meeting’s positive tone was seen as a boost for Netanyahu, who has faced pressure over the course of the war.
An account from the Israeli government said the two leaders remain closely coordinated on Iran and that there is “no daylight” between them.
“There is no truth in the claim that Israel is pushing the US in a certain direction on the Iran issue,” Netanyahu’s communications director Tzipi Hotovely told reporters.
Tzipi also dismissed the perception widely accepted that Netanyahu has been guiding Trump in the war, he said, “The Prime Minister is not telling the US President what to do and is not pushing him in any direction. Both sides want to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons. There are many ways to achieve this goal.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the meeting as “good and productive,” confirming the Israeli account of the discussions.
Beyond Iran, the leaders discussed the possibility of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel as part of a broader US-backed nuclear agreement with Riyadh, Hotovely said.
The issue of a potential US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, which is opposed by Israel, was not raised, nor did Trump call on Israel to withdraw troops from occupied areas, she added.
Unlike previous Oval Office meetings between the two leaders, reporters were not allowed into the room. Netanyahu’s office later released photographs from the talks.
Netanyahu later described his meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday as “one of the best conversations” the two leaders have had, citing close coordination on Iran and other security issues.
“When I say excellent, it’s not just lip service,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “It was a conversation of full partnership, of mutual support, with an understanding of the shared goal to ensure that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, and also other goals.”
He added: “It was one of the best conversations I’ve had with the president of the United States, our friend Donald Trump.”
The meeting came as Trump remains deeply involved in multiple global conflicts, including the Iran war and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also met Trump at the White House on Tuesday, with discussions focused on reviving diplomatic efforts and expanding access to Patriot air-defense systems.
Zelensky said the two leaders discussed “licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” along with efforts to restart peace talks.
The White House kept details of both meetings limited, with Leavitt writing on X that “Both meetings were positive and productive!”
Netanyahu later joined Vance and Trump at a funeral for Sen. Lindsey Graham, where the Israeli leader was seen speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Trump earlier in the day.
Trump showed signs of frustration with Netanyahu ahead of their meeting, questioning reports that the Israeli prime minister planned to present intelligence on Iranian activity at Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected nuclear site that the US president has repeatedly threatened to target.
“I know exactly what’s going on at Pickaxe,” Trump told “Fox & Friends,” dismissing concerns over Iran’s activities there as “not a big problem.” He suggested Netanyahu was raising the issue to keep the US engaged, saying, “Bibi’s telling me that because he wants me to stay involved.”
“Why do you have to announce to the world?” Trump added, reflecting his irritation over the matter.
An Israeli official said Netanyahu told Trump during the meeting that Israel would continue sharing intelligence with the US, while acknowledging that Washington has its own timeline and strategic considerations, including the potential impact on regional allies if the US chooses to escalate militarily.
