Iran has warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States is aimed at undermining newly resumed nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington.
Netanyahu left for Washington on Tuesday to meet US President Donald Trump and press for a tougher stance on Iran’s ballistic missile programme in upcoming negotiations. It is his seventh meeting with Trump since the US president returned to office, including a visit to Jerusalem in October 2025 after Trump announced a ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking at the airport, Netanyahu said he would discuss Gaza, wider regional issues and, above all, the negotiations with Iran. He promised to present Israel’s position on what he called the key principles that must guide the talks for the sake of peace and security in the Middle East.
His office has said he will insist that any deal with Tehran must cover Iran’s ballistic missiles and regional activities, not just its nuclear programme. Israel has long argued that focusing solely on nuclear limits ignores other threats it says Iran poses to regional stability.
Reacting at a press conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Israel of being the main source of insecurity in the region. He claimed Israel turned Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme into what he called a fabricated crisis and opposes any diplomacy that could restore calm.
Baghaei urged US officials not to let other countries dictate their foreign policy. He said it is up to Washington to decide whether to resist what he described as destructive pressure and lobbying aimed at derailing negotiations.
The spokesman insisted Iran has shown seriousness and goodwill in the talks and is eager to see illegal sanctions lifted as soon as possible. Referring to a brief encounter between Iranian and US delegations on Friday, he said there is an understanding to keep the diplomatic process going, which he called an important step.
Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Oman on Tuesday for consultations, according to local media reports. His visit is seen as part of Iran’s broader regional diplomacy around the nuclear file and security issues.
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