Netanyahu to Visit Washington Amid Sensitive U.S.–Iran Negotiations

United Nations

Sphinx News: Ahmed Ali

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks to Washington for a meeting with President Trump, Iranian officials grow wary, with the UN hoping for lowered tensions.

Originally scheduled to meet President Trump later this month, Netanyahu has expedited those plans and is set to meet with President Trump tomorrow.

Regarding his intention behind the anticipated diplomatic discussion, Netanyahu revealed on X, “On this trip we will discuss a number of issues: Gaza, the region, but of course first and foremost the negotiations with Iran. I will present to the President our perceptions regarding the principles in the negotiations, the important principles, and in my opinion they are important not only to Israel – but to everyone in the world who wants peace and security in the Middle East.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s contestations come as the United States and Iran have already held a first round of indirect diplomatic discussions, mediated by Oman. In its first round of mediation, the Islamic Republic had reportedly floated the possibility of making compromises on its enriched uranium stockpiles but continued to rule out making concessions on its missile programs or the backing of armed groups across the Middle East.

On February 6th, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in Muscat, capital of Oman, “It was a good start … Iran’s positions and concerns were fully conveyed in a very positive atmosphere, and the views of the other side were also heard.” Additionally, the Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated on February 7th, “While explaining their viewpoints and demands, the sides agreed to decide on the next round of talks after consultations with the capitals.”

On the American side, Trump’s Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner have been leading the negotiations. Just last week, Trump told reporters, “They had a very good meeting with a very high representative of Iran, and we’ll see how it all turns out.”

With no fixed date set for the next round of discussions, Ali Larijani, a top security official in Iran’s government, met Oman’s ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, today in Muscat. According to the official Oman news agency, “The two discussed the latest developments in the Iranian-American negotiations as well an effective path forward.”

At a news briefing on Tuesday, Esmaeil Baghaei said “Larijani’s visit was part of regional consultations in line with Tehran’s policy of strengthening relations with neighbouring countries and had been planned in advance.

Regarding the negotiations with the United States, Baghaei said Washington “must act independently, free from the destructive pressures being exerted that harm the region and American interests.”

He deplored the US to resist Israeli pressure over the nuclear issue, saying “one of the United States’ problems in the region is its subservience to the demands of the Zionist entity, which is the primary factor destabilizing security in the region.”

Baghaei said after the collapse of the diplomatic process last year, it was “unrealistic to expect detailed discussions in the very first meeting.”

“The Muscat meeting itself was brief, lasting about half a day, and from our perspective was mainly aimed at assessing the other side’s seriousness and exploring how the process might proceed,” he said.

The focus, he added, has been on general principles and Iran’s “core positions” are clear, “securing the Iranian people’s interests based on international law and the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, including the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.”

On the potential impediment Netanyahu’s trip may have on the nascent discussions between Tehran and Washington, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, reiterated the UN’s position of respect for novel consultations, affirming, “there are a lot of meetings going on in a lot of places. Our focus is on seeing the tensions in the region get lower, and we hope that the discussions between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran will lead to exactly that.”