‘Nothing definitive’ from Netanyahu’s visit with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited United States President Trump in Washington, D.C., yesterday to advocate for Israeli security as Trump pursues nuclear negotiations with Iran. Trump said the meeting reached “nothing definitive” and that he “insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated.” Netanyahu was a vocal opponent of the U.S. negotiations with Iran under Barack Obama and Joe Biden. President Trump appears to be treating Israeli security in much the same way. But with a second U.S. carrier strike group potentially entering the Middle East theater and an escalation of Iranian oil tanker seizures on the table, some think the public spat could be a diversion similar to what preceded direct Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program last July. Tension in the Middle East—and between these troubled allies—remains high. President Trump’s next move could either make the region a safer place or push it closer to major war.