‘Midnight Hammer’ looms, but Trump prioritises Iran deal over conflict

President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the  White House on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran must continue, signalling a clear reluctance to embrace Israel’s push for a more  confrontational approach. The meeting, which lasted three hours and ran beyond schedule, revolved around the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the fragile state of the Gaza ceasefire framework. Netanyahu’s seventh visit since Trump’s return to office in January last year reflected the intensity of US–Israel engagement at a moment when diplomacy and military escalation appear to be competing tracks.

The meeting was subdued compared with previous state visits. Netanyahu entered through a back entrance, and the administration did not hold a post-meeting press conference, leaving public characterisation of the event to a statement issued by Trump on his Truth Social platform. While both leaders emphasised their strong personal relationship, the outcome suggested that substantial strategic differences remain unresolved, particularly over Tehran.

Trump said after the meeting that on the Iran issue, "nothing definitive" had been agreed regarding a path forward. He, however, pointed out that diplomatic channels were still open. "I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated," Trump wrote, adding that a diplomatic solution remains his "preference".

Yet the shadow of military force hung over the proceedings. The discussion took place against the backdrop of Operation Midnight Hammer, a US-led strike on Iranian nuclear facilities conducted last June after the collapse of earlier negotiations. Trump invoked the operation as a warning to Tehran, posting, "Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer—That did not work well for them".

Netanyahu arrived in Washington with what Israeli officials described as a maximalist set of security demands. During the meeting, he presented intelligence concerning Iran’s military build-up, with particular emphasis on its ballistic missile programme. The prime minister conveyed a clear message: any future agreement must not only address uranium enrichment but also dismantle Tehran’s missile capabilities and end its support for proxy groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Netanyahu’s office stated that he stressed Israel’s "security needs in the context of the negotiations" and that if Trump were to authorise further strikes, they must target missile projects as well as nuclear facilities.

Despite pressure from Washington and Tel Aviv, diplomatic progress appears stalled. Shortly before the White House meeting, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held indirect talks with Iranian officials in Oman. While Trump described the initial rounds as "very good", the fundamental gap between the two sides remains substantial. Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, have indicated a willingness to negotiate on aspects of the nuclear programme but have drawn a red line around the country’s missile arsenal. An adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated explicitly that "the Islamic Republic’s missile capabilities are non-negotiable".

To strengthen its negotiating leverage, the United States has accelerated a military build-up in the region. The Pentagon has instructed the USS Bush aircraft carrier to prepare for deployment to the Middle East, potentially joining the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group already operating there, adding further pressure on Iran.

Apart from discussing Iran, Trump and Netanyahu also spoke about developments in the West Bank and Gaza. Trump said "tremendous progress" was being made in Gaza and the wider Middle East. This optimism is tied to the administration’s "Board of Peace" initiative. While in Washington, Netanyahu formally signed the charter to join the "Board of Peace" during a separate meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The body, established by the Trump administration, is intended to oversee post-war governance and reconstruction in Gaza. Netanyahu’s signature signalled Israel’s consent to be bound by the Board’s framework.

However, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is facing a serious strain because of repeated violations and mutual accusations of non-compliance. Moving to the second phase of the agreement, which calls for the disarmament of Hamas and an Israeli withdrawal, has proved difficult. Despite Trump’s declaration of peace, his administration continues to press both sides to implement the stalled provisions of the deal.

Yesterday’s meeting underscored the precarious nature of the current US–Israel alignment. Trump and Netanyahu remain united in their determination to contain Iran, yet they confront a resilient adversary in Tehran that has withstood military strikes and refuses to concede on core defence capabilities. Netanyahu, under pressure from far-right coalition partners at home, requires a decisive outcome on Iran to reassure his domestic base and project strength. Meanwhile, Trump, in the second year of his final term, seeks a legacy-defining agreement but has acknowledged that if diplomacy fails, the consequences remain uncertain.