Trump Iran talks continue as Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Trump said US-Iran talks are friendly, while Netanyahu reached Washington for expected talks on the war and regional escalation.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Trump Iran talks are continuing through what US President Donald Trump called “very friendly talks,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Washington, DC, for expected discussions with Trump. Al Jazeera reported that the diplomacy follows 13 days of attacks and a three-night pause in further strikes, leaving negotiations and the threat of renewed military action side by side.
Alan Fisher, reporting for Al Jazeera from Washington, said the immediate aim of the US-Iran contacts is to stop the military action seen over the past 13 days and create a path back to negotiations. He said those talks would be intended to move beyond a memorandum of understanding toward a final deal.
Fisher said the first step remains difficult. According to his reporting, the United States wants the Strait of Hormuz reopened, while Iran sees the waterway as a source of leverage.
What is happening in the Trump Iran talks?
Al Jazeera reported that both Washington and Tehran want a deal, but Fisher said reaching one would require “a lot of work.” He said Trump has warned that if diplomacy fails, the US could return to “very strong military action,” a threat that continues to hang over the talks.
Iran has said it is trading messages with the United States through intermediaries, according to Al Jazeera. Tehran also said Washington is struggling to find a way out of what Iran described as a five-month-long conflict.
Fisher said the memorandum of understanding had envisioned a 60-day period for negotiations, with the possibility of extension by both sides. He reported that the clock on that process has not yet started.
What role does the Strait of Hormuz play?
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway linking the Gulf to the open sea and is a critical route for shipping. Al Jazeera reported that Washington wants it open, while Iran views the strait as leverage in the talks.
A Reuters photo distributed by ISNA and WANA showed vessels near Bandar Abbas, Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz on July 27. The image underscored the waterway’s place in the confrontation as diplomacy resumes.
Netanyahu arrives as regional tensions widen
Netanyahu has arrived in Washington and is expected to meet Trump for the first time since February, according to Al Jazeera. The two leaders are likely to discuss the war on Iran, Al Jazeera reported.
Al Jazeera also reported that Saudi Arabia condemned a drone attack launched by Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The attack targeted Riyadh and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, according to the report.
In a separate segment, Al Jazeera said the United States had bombed Iranian civilian infrastructure over 13 nights, including bridges, airports, electrical facilities and a desalination plant. It said Iran responded by attacking US allies in the Gulf and striking civilian infrastructure there as well.
Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces carried out further raids in the occupied West Bank. Former senior Israeli military officials have written to Trump urging him to press Netanyahu to curb the violence, according to the outlet.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said his office has documented violations of international law by Israel in Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported. Turk said some of the documented violations may amount to war crimes.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.