Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met senior US officials in Washington on Tuesday, ahead of his seventh meeting with Donald Trump since his second term as US president began.
Netanyahu held talks at Blair House in Washington with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law and informal Middle East adviser Jared Kushner, according to reports, with discussions apparently focused on Washington's negotiations with Iran.
The meeting with Trump, which had initially been expected next week, was reportedly brought forward at Netanyahu's request after the start of renewed US-Iran negotiations in Muscat.
According to Israeli media, Netanyahu sought to secure the meeting urgently to "guarantee Israeli interests" amid fears Washington could strike a deal with Tehran.
The hawkish Israeli PM is expected to present a list of demands to the US president in a bid to influence Washington's position regarding ongoing US-Iran talks in Muscat, which include restrictions on Tehran’s ballistic missile programme and what Netanyahu's office described as "the Iranian [regional] axis".
"I will present to the president our perceptions of the principles in the negotiations," Netanyahu told reporters before departing.
Israel has long demanded that Iran halt all uranium enrichment, curb its missile programme and sever ties with armed groups across the region.
Tehran has consistently rejected those conditions, saying it would only accept limits on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
The visit comes as Trump said he was mulling over sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, even as Washington and Tehran prepare to resume talks aimed at avoiding war.
"Either we reach a deal, or we'll have to do something very tough," Israel's Channel 12 quoted him as saying.
Speaking to Fox Business, Trump said a "good deal" would mean "no nuclear weapons, no missiles", adding that it would be "foolish" for Tehran not to reach an agreement.
Axios reported that Trump is considering deploying an additional aircraft carrier strike group, including destroyers, to the region, saying: "We have a fleet going there, and maybe another one will go too."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, said his country would "not yield to excessive demands" over its nuclear programme.
"Our country, Iran, will not yield to their excessive demands," he said in a speech at Azadi Square in the capital for the 47th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, widely viewed as a demonstration in support of the government.
"Our Iran will not yield in the face of aggression, but we are continuing dialogue with all our strength with neighbouring countries in order to establish peace and tranquillity in the region."
Separately, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani discussed regional de-escalation efforts with Trump in a phone call on Wednesday, according to the Emiri Diwan.
The call focused on "supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing crises through dialogue and peaceful means" and reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination on regional issues.
The phone call came hours before Trump’s scheduled White House meeting with Netanyahu.
Qatari officials said the discussion centred on the latest regional developments and international efforts to reduce escalation and enhance regional security and stability.
Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, arrived in Doha the same day and met the emir, as Washington and Tehran prepare to resume negotiations.
According to the Emiri Diwan, Sheikh Tamim and Larijani reviewed bilateral cooperation and discussed regional developments and efforts to lower tensions. The meeting followed last week’s round of US-Iran negotiations in Muscat.
After last week's talks in Oman, both sides described the meeting as "good" and agreed to continue discussions, signalling cautious progress, although no new date has been set.
Trump has repeatedly threatened military action if talks fail, while Tehran has warned it would retaliate, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Pezeshkian apologised on Wednesday to "all those affected" by nationwide protests and the subsequent crackdown.
While Iranian authorities say nearly 3,100 people were killed, foreign-based rights groups claim the true figure is much higher.