US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Tuesday to discuss trade tensions and ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.”I’ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc.” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. “The call went very well-We are on the same side of every issue,” he added. The conversation comes nearly two weeks after a White House meeting where the two leaders addressed new US tariffs imposed on Israeli goods. At that meeting, Trump also announced the start of negotiations with Iran aimed at reaching a new agreement on its nuclear program.
During those talks, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel and the US are “united” in their stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “If it can be done diplomatically (…) that would be a good thing. But whatever happens, we have to make sure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said. The US and Iran held their first round of indirect nuclear talks on Apr. 12 in Oman, followed by a second round on Apr. 19 in Rome.
Omani diplomats mediated the discussions. Iran’s nuclear program has remained a global concern since the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and six world powers including the US. In 2018, during Trump’s first term, the US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and reinstated sanctions on Tehran. In response, Iran exceeded the uranium enrichment limits set by the JCPOA. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear activities, particularly its enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade levels. The agency reported that Iran currently possesses 8,294 kilograms of uranium, including 274 kilograms enriched to 60% purity, just below the 90% threshold needed for nuclear weapons. EFE ecs-bks