Latest news with #IranNuclearTalks
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump and Netanyahu celebrate 'historic victory' against Iran, eye future Middle East peace
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Monday evening to cement a shared message: the U.S.-Israel alliance has reshaped the Middle East – and more is coming. "We had tremendous success together," Trump said during the public portion of their dinner meeting. "And I think it will only go on to be even greater success in the future." Netanyahu handed Trump a formal letter he sent to the Nobel Peace Prize committee. "It's well-deserved," the prime minister said. "You're forging peace as we speak, in one country and one region after the other." Trump appeared surprised. "Thank you very much," he replied. "Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful." But behind the symbolism was a serious discussion about Iran, Gaza and what both sides see as an inflection point in regional diplomacy. Trump confirmed that Iran has requested new talks following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on its nuclear and missile infrastructure. "They want to meet. They want to work something out," he said. "They're very different now than they were two weeks ago." Netanyahu called the military operation "a historic victory," adding that it "set back the two tumors that were threatening the life of Israel – the nuclear tumor and the ballistic missile tumor." But, he warned, "just like a tumor, it can grow back... You have to constantly monitor the situation to make sure that there's no attempt to bring it back." Michael Makovsky, CEO of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), told Fox News Digital that one key goal of the meeting was to define red lines for future action. "The war with Iran was ended a little abruptly by Trump," Makovsky said. "The Israelis wanted to continue it a couple more days, or at least until there was an understanding with the U.S. about what would trigger another response." According to a new JINSA memo titled Not Over, those triggers could include Iran rebuilding air defenses, diverting enriched uranium or importing advanced missile technology. "We've always viewed military action as a campaign, not a one-off," Makovsky said. "Unfortunately, short of regime collapse in Tehran, this is going to be part of a series." Trump, however, emphasized his peacemaking ambitions. "I'm stopping wars," he said. He said the Iran strike "turned out... to be obliterated," and praised the pilots involved: "They flew for 37 hours with zero problem mechanically. The biggest bombs we've ever dropped – non-nuclear. And we want to keep it non-nuclear, by the way." Turning to Gaza, Trump said he believes a ceasefire deal may be reached soon. "They want that ceasefire," he said, in reference to Hamas. Netanyahu echoed that desire, but reiterated that "certain powers, like overall security, will always remain in our hands. No one in Israel will agree to anything else. We don't commit suicide. We cherish life." When asked whether his Palestinian relocation plan was still on the table, Trump initially deferred to Netanyahu, who responded by praising what he called "a brilliant vision.""It's called free choice," Netanyahu said. "If people want to stay, they can stay. But if they want to leave, they should be able to leave." He added that Israel is working closely with the United States to find countries willing to help realize this approach. "We're getting close to finding several countries," Netanyahu said. "And I think this will give, again, the freedom to choose. Palestinians should have it. And I hope that we can secure it." Makovsky said Trump now sees Gaza and Iran as sequential "episodes." "He sees the war with Iran as a successful episode – it's time to end that and pivot to peace," he said. "He wants to move toward expanding the Abraham Accords, particularly with Saudi Arabia." The two leaders also touched on Syria. "I think there's an opportunity to explore," Netanyahu said, referencing recent shifts after the collapse of the Assad regime. Makovsky said Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa may be seeking "some sort of arrangement" with Israel to gain U.S. support. "He's incredibly flexible and practical," Makovsky noted. As Netanyahu put it, "This has already changed the face of the Middle East." Trump added, "We're on the way to a lot of great results." On Tuesday Netanyahu will meet with the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, R-La.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Israel calls on China to rein in Iran's military and nuclear ambitions
China and Russia stood by Iran in March after the US demanded nuclear talks with Tehran, with senior Chinese and Russian diplomats saying dialogue should only resume based on "mutual respect." Israel has called on China to use its economic and political influence to curb Iran's military and nuclear ambitions, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. 'China is the only one capable of influencing Iran,' Consul-General in Shanghai Ravit Baer said. 'Iran would collapse if China didn't buy its oil,' she added. Both China and Russia stood by Iran in March after the US demanded nuclear talks with Tehran, with senior Chinese and Russian diplomats saying dialogue should only resume based on "mutual respect" and all sanctions ought to be lifted, The Jerusalem Post previously reported. 'They can pressure Iran. They have political power over Iran. They can help change its malign activities in the region,' she said. 'There are many things China can do.' However, despite the fact that both countries have close relations with the Islamic Republic, neither offered assistance in the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. 'I don't think China is interested in being a mediator' between Israel and Iran, Baer said. 'Being a mediator is a big responsibility, requires lots of money, and hard decisions.' According to Bloomberg, Baer added that Israel's relations with China, its second-largest trading partner after the US, haven't worsened much despite conflicts since 2023. 'We're still having good conversations,' she said. 'Even if we disagree politically, it doesn't mean you cannot cooperate.' This is a developing report.
Reuters
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff says US-Iran talks are 'promising'
WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday that talks between the United States and Iran were "promising" and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal. "We are already talking to each other, not just directly but also through interlocutors. I think that the conversations are promising. We are hopeful that we can have a long-term peace agreement that resurrects Iran," Witkoff said in an interview on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" show. "Now its for us to sit down with the Iranians and get to a comprehensive peace agreement, and I am very confident that we are going to achieve that," he added. Since April, Iran and the U.S. have held indirect talks aimed at finding a new diplomatic solution regarding Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says its program is peaceful and Washington says it wants to ensure Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon. Trump announced a ceasefire on Monday between U.S. ally Israel and its regional rival Iran which was aimed at ending their air war that began on June 13 when Israel struck Iran. The conflict had raised alarms in a region that was already on edge since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023. Israel is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons and says its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty while Israel is not. The U.S. struck Iran's nuclear sites over the weekend and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Qatar on Monday in retaliation, before Trump announced an Israel-Iran ceasefire on social media.
Fox News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
As Iran talks get underway, expert raises alarm over lack of plan to secure nuclear material
European and Iranian negotiators ended their talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday without a clear breakthrough, but diplomats told The Associated Press they were hopeful of more discussions with the Iranians. The talks with Iran come a day after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a message from President Trump, stating, "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks." One former Pentagon official says there is an important issue that is not being discussed. "If Iran gives up its nuclear program as Trump has demanded, there's another problem we're not talking about, which is how do we get all the nuclear material outside of Iran," Michael Rubin, an American Enterprise Institute senior fellow, told Fox News Digital. Rubin, who has lived in post-revolution Iran, Yemen, and both pre- and postwar Iraq, mentioned that there are a few options available. "The United States could do it, but we don't want boots on the ground." He said the International Atomic Energy Agency could be tasked with doing it, adding, "Who really trusts the United Nations and U.N. agencies?" "If Trump is serious about getting Iran to forfeit its nuclear program, it's time to start having a conversation with other allies about who could take command, control and custody of this nuclear material until it's outside of Iran." Rubin said he would nominate India to seize the nuclear material. "They are trusted by the Americans, they're trusted by the Israelis and they're trusted by the Iranians. But we need to start not only being reactive, but also proactive," said Rubin Rubin cited a quote from Margaret Thatcher to George H.W. Bush in 1990 — "Don't go wobbly on me now, George" — when Saddam Hussein invaded Iraq. "I suspect Marco Rubio is filling Margaret Thatcher's britches, that he is the one going around now to our European allies, saying, 'Don't go wobbly on me now.,'" said Rubin. "[He] is saying this to everyone else within the European Union and the United Kingdom because if the Europeans have their choice, they're going to choose quiet over common sense." On Thursday, Rubio spoke with counterparts to discuss the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, he spoke with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in separate conversations about the ongoing conflict. They all agreed to "continue to work together closely to commit to a path of peace and ensure that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon," Bruce said.
Arab News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
British FM says ‘window now exists' for diplomacy with Iran
WASHINGTON: On the eve of European talks with Iran over its nuclear program, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Thursday after meeting high-level US officials that there is still time to reach a diplomatic solution with Tehran. Lammy met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House, before talks on Friday in Geneva with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alongside his French, German and EU counterparts. The diplomatic flurry came as European countries call for de-escalation in the face of Israel's bombing campaign against Iran's nuclear program — and as US President Donald Trump weighs up whether or not to join the strikes against Tehran. 'The situation in the Middle East remains perilous,' Lammy said in a statement released by the UK embassy in Washington. 'We discussed how Iran must make a deal to avoid a deepening conflict. A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,' Lammy said. 'Tomorrow, I will be heading to Geneva to meet with the Iranian foreign minister alongside my French, German and EU counterparts,' the British minister said. 'Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one.' The State Department said Lammy and Rubio had 'agreed Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.' Araghchi earlier confirmed he would 'meet with the European delegation in Geneva on Friday,' in a statement carried by Iranian state news agency IRNA. The talks are set to include Lammy, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, as well as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Trump has said he is weighing military action against Iran's nuclear facilities as Israel pummels the country and Tehran responds with missile fire. France, Germany, Britain and the European Union were all signatories of the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, which Trump sunk during his first term in office. The EU's Kallas, in coordination with European countries, has insisted that diplomacy remains the best path toward ensuring that Iran does not develop a nuclear bomb. On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said European nations were planning to suggest a negotiated solution to end the Iran-Israel conflict. He asked his foreign minister to draw up an initiative with 'close partners' to that end. Barrot has been in regular touch with his German and British counterparts since Israel launched massive air strikes against Iran on Friday. 'We are ready to take part in negotiations aimed at obtaining from Iran a lasting rollback of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs,' Barrot said. Israel says its air campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran had been enriching uranium to 60 percent — far above the 3.67 percent limit set by a 2015 deal with international powers, but still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead. Iran denies it is building nuclear weapons. del-ec-bc/sst/acb
