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29 Jul 2026, 20:13

Axios: Behind the Scenes of "Bibi's" Crucial Meeting with Trump at the White House

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, expressed doubts during his meeting with President Trump about the possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran and discussed increasing economic pressure on Iran "through military and non-military means"; this was stated by a senior Israeli official in a meeting with reporters.
Importance of the Topic: Tuesday's meeting was Netanyahu and Trump's first since the war began on February 28. This meeting took place while Trump continues to seek an agreement with Iran, but is also considering a return to extensive combat operations.

▪️ A few hours after this meeting, Iran launched a missile attack against an American base in Jordan for the first time since Trump halted U.S. attacks in Iran on Friday.

▪️ In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump promised a serious response. Iran's surprise attack could push the President toward escalating the conflict.

▪️ The Israeli official said Netanyahu is waiting for Trump's decision but has clearly told him that if Iran attacks Israel, the response will be immediate and powerful.
What Happened in the Room: Iran was the main topic of the 90-minute discussion.

▪️ The Israeli official said they reviewed three options that Trump is considering for the next steps:
1. Reaching an agreement with Iran. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's envoys, are still negotiating with the Iranians, although currently, the differences still seem wide. The Israeli official said Netanyahu has told Trump he is skeptical about the possibility of reaching an agreement with the Iranians.
2. Continuing the maritime blockade of Iran while increasing economic pressure.
3. Resuming and intensifying military attacks.

▪️ The official said: "We discussed all these options in detail and very clearly; not with the aim of preferring one option over another, but to examine what each could yield in terms of outcomes. That was the subject of the discussion."
Close-Up: The Israeli official said Trump expressed concern about the impact of the war on energy markets and the global economy.

▪️ Netanyahu told Trump that the Iranian regime is primarily trying to use its only remaining leverage — the Strait of Hormuz — to force the U.S. to make concessions.

▪️ The Israeli official said Netanyahu did not dismiss Trump's concerns but told him there are ways to further increase pressure on Iran's economy, which is already under severe strain.

▪️ The Israeli official said: "We discussed increasing economic pressure through military and non-military means. We talked about the possibility of continuing the blockade to pressure Iran."

▪️ The Israeli official said there is a divide within the Iranian leadership between those who are deeply concerned about economic collapse and more hardline elements who believe they have no problems as long as they control weapons and can rely on their supporters.

▪️ The Israeli official added: "They are facing fuel supply issues, long lines at gas stations, and a shortage of diesel. Small protests have emerged because people are very dissatisfied. The regime is very worried about this situation and fears that people will revolt due to economic conditions."

Behind the Scenes: The Israeli official said Mojtaba Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has a very negative stance on "everything," but it is unclear whether the orders attributed to him actually come from him.

▪️ The Israeli official claimed: "He is alive, but no one can testify that they have really seen him. He has told those around him not to do anything without his approval, and it is even said that once he got angry when something was done without his permission."

Wide Angle: The Israeli official said Netanyahu showed Trump a map of Syria, indicating that the areas controlled by Turkey in Syria are "50 times larger" than the areas occupied by Israel.

▪️ The Israeli official claimed Turkey controls 5% of Syrian territory, while Israel holds 0.1% of it.

▪️ An American official said that unlike Israel's occupation in southern Syria, Turkey's military presence in northern Syria is currently with the consent and invitation of the Syrian government.

▪️ The Israeli official said Netanyahu told Trump that Israel will maintain its presence in the "buffer zone" in southern Syria as long as there is a threat from "jihadist groups."

▪️ The Israeli official said: "Netanyahu wanted to show this to Trump because he sometimes reaches specific views based on incorrect information provided by some individuals. If you don't find a way to change his opinion in the early stages, that opinion becomes entrenched. Therefore, we wanted to present the facts, if possible visually, to him."

▪️ The Israeli official said Netanyahu also discussed the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement with Trump. Trump told Netanyahu he views this agreement in the context of normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

▪️ The Israeli official said: "If we see real progress, we will have things to say about the nuclear issue."
Overall Picture: The Israeli official said Netanyahu told Trump, Vice President Pence, and Witkoff that he is serious about reducing U.S. military aid to Israel to zero over 10 years. He emphasized that he wants to advance negotiations to draft a memorandum of understanding in this regard.

▪️ The Israeli official said Trump and his team indicated they have received feedback from Republicans who are concerned about being accused of being anti-Israel due to supporting the gradual elimination of aid.

▪️ Netanyahu told them he would personally and publicly lead this effort because he wants Israel to achieve defense independence.

▪️ The Israeli official said: "We are talking about a 10-year process. We welcome proposals, and perhaps this could happen more quickly."

▪️ This official even said Netanyahu has instructed Israel's defense sector to work on developing a modern fighter jet within a decade so that the country's air force remains powerful even if the delivery of F-35s and other advanced aircraft from the U.S. stops.

▪️ This official said Netanyahu does not want Israel to depend on "the goodwill of the U.S. Congress" because he believes the political direction of both parties regarding military aid is becoming more negative.

▪️ Netanyahu believes Israel's economic situation allows the country to gradually phase out U.S. military aid. The Israeli official said Netanyahu has proposed that the new memorandum include $16 billion in direct U.S. military aid and an additional $5 to $10 billion in support for the development of Israel's missile defense systems.

▪️ Additionally, Netanyahu has proposed creating a joint $16 billion fund for research and development of new weapon systems.
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