WASHINGTON (Realist English). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to discuss potential military scenarios regarding Iran during meetings with US President Donald Trump in Washington this week, as Israel prepares contingency plans in case ongoing US-Iran negotiations collapse, according to Israeli sources.
Israeli officials remain skeptical about the prospects of a comprehensive agreement between Washington and Tehran, one source said, emphasizing that Jerusalem is seeking firm assurances that any deal would preserve Israel’s operational freedom. Netanyahu is also expected to present updated intelligence assessments on Iran’s missile capabilities.
According to the Israeli assessment cited by the source, Iran is attempting to rebuild its ballistic missile stockpile following last year’s 12-day conflict. Officials estimate that, without further constraints, Tehran could restore its arsenal to between 1,800 and 2,000 missiles within weeks or months. These claims could not be independently verified.
Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu described Iran as the “first and foremost” issue on the agenda for his meeting with Trump — their seventh since the beginning of Trump’s second term. He said he would outline principles he considers essential for any negotiation framework, arguing they are critical not only for Israel but for regional stability.
Israel has urged the United States to ensure that any agreement requires Iran to dismantle its enriched uranium stockpile, halt enrichment activities, limit its ballistic missile program, and cease support for regional proxy groups. Iranian officials, however, have repeatedly stated that negotiations should focus solely on the nuclear file.
Over the weekend, Trump signaled he could accept a deal limited to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, without necessarily addressing other military issues.
The Washington talks follow a series of recent high-level exchanges between US and Israeli officials. Israeli military and intelligence leaders visited the Pentagon last month, while US envoys met Netanyahu and senior security officials in Jerusalem last week.
Netanyahu’s visit comes as diplomatic efforts to extend the Gaza ceasefire continue, with Washington seeking progress toward a broader settlement. Israeli officials maintain that Hamas must disarm before reconstruction efforts in Gaza can move forward.
