Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to Washington on Tuesday for his seventh visit to the United States since U.S. President Donald Trump began his second term, saying the trip will focus on Gaza, regional developments, and, above all, negotiations with Iran.
“I will present to the president our perspectives on the key principles in the negotiations—principles that, in my view, are important not only for Israel but for anyone in the world who seeks peace and security in the Middle East,” the premier told reporters on the tarmac of Ben-Gurion International Airport before boarding Israel’s official state aircraft, Wing of Zion.
Here’s a lightly edited version with clean grammar and punctuation:
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who is joining Netanyahu on the Wing of Zion flight to Washington, told i24NEWS that there are “no significant gaps between Israel and the United States on demands from Iran,” underscoring the close coordination ahead of the talks.
“I think there’s an extraordinary alignment between Israel and the United States. Everyone would love to see something that would resolve without a war, but it’ll be up to Iran,” Huckabee said. “If they insist on holding nuclear weaponry and enriched uranium, then I think the president has made it very clear that’s not acceptable.”
Asked if the U.S. and Israel’s red lines in the Iran negotiations are aligned, Huckabee answered: “As far as I know, I haven’t heard anything to the contrary.”
🔴 Huckabee to i24NEWS, ahead of departure with Netanyahu to US: ‘No significant gaps between Israel, US on demands from Iran’ @AmichaiStein1 pic.twitter.com/aEPXzFHNR3
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) February 10, 2026
“The prime minister believes that any negotiations must include limiting [Iran’s] ballistic missiles and halting support for the Iranian axis,” according to a statement released by Netanyahu’s office on Saturday night.
Trump said on Feb. 6 that the parties held “very good talks” in Oman earlier in the day regarding the Iranian nuclear project.
“You have to get in position. We have plenty of time, if you remember Venezuela. We waited around for a while, and we’re in no rush,” the president told reporters when asked about a timeline for negotiations.
Tehran on Tuesday warned of the “destructive” influence of the “Zionist regime” (Israel) ahead of Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
“Our negotiating party is America. It is up to America to decide to act independently of the pressures and destructive influences that are detrimental to the region,” AFP quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei as saying at his weekly press briefing.
“The Zionist regime has repeatedly, as a saboteur, shown that it opposes any diplomatic process in our region that leads to peace,” Baqaei continued.
Netanyahu had been expected to meet with Trump on Feb. 18, but moved up his travel plans. The two are scheduled to meet at the White House on Wednesday.
In addition to Iran, the leaders are also expected to discuss the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, with the Trump administration planning to hold the first meeting of the Board of Peace in D.C. on Feb. 19.
Last week, Netanyahu met with Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, emphasizing that Israel will not compromise on its war aims in the Gaza Strip and cautioning against trusting Iranian promises.
Netanyahu reiterated to Witkoff that Hamas must be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized before any reconstruction efforts begin. He also said that the Palestinian Authority could not play any role in administering the Gaza Strip, the statement added.
