Israel\u2019s Netanyahu expected to press Trump to include limitations on Tehran\u2019s missiles in US-Iran deal
\n tehran
\nIran\u2019s missile capabilities are its red line and are not a subject to be negotiated, an adviser to Iran\u2019s supreme leader said on Wednesday, as Tehran and Washington eye a new round of talks to avert conflict.
\nUS and Iranian diplomats held indirect talks last week in Oman, amid a regional naval buildup by the US threatening Iran.
\n\u201cThe Islamic Republic\u2019s missile capabilities are non-negotiable,\u201d Ali Shamkhani said, according to state media, while appearing in a march commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
\nWashington has long sought to extend talks on Iran\u2019s nuclear capabilities to cover its missile programme as well. Iran has said it is prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions, but has repeatedly ruled out linking the issue to other questions, including missiles.
\nIsrael\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to use a meeting with Trump in Washington on Wednesday to push for any US-Iran deal to include limitations on Tehran\u2019s missiles.
\nPresident Donald Trump will host Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, where the Israeli prime minister is expected to press him to widen US talks with Iran to include limits on Tehran\u2019s missile arsenal and other security threats beyond its nuclear program.
\nIn his seventh meeting with Trump since the president returned to office nearly 13 months ago, Netanyahu will be looking to influence the next round of US discussions with Iran following nuclear negotiations held in Oman last Friday.
\nTrump has threatened strikes on Iran if no agreement is reached, while Tehran has vowed to retaliate, stoking fears of a wider war. He has repeatedly voiced support for a secure Israel, a longstanding US ally and arch-foe of Iran.
\nIn media interviews on Tuesday, Trump repeated his warning, saying that while he believes Iran wants a deal, he would do \u201csomething very tough\u201d if it refused.
\nTrump told Fox Business that a good deal with Iran would mean \u201cno nuclear weapons, no missiles,\u201d without elaborating. He also told Axios he was considering sending a second aircraft carrier strike group as part of a major US buildup near Iran.
\nIsrael fears that the US might pursue a narrow nuclear deal that does not include limitations on Iran\u2019s ballistic missile program, according to people familiar with the matter.
\n\u201cI will present to the president our perceptions of the principles in the negotiations,\u201d Netanyahu told reporters before departing for the US. The two leaders could also discuss potential military action if diplomacy with Iran fails, one source said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Israel\u2019s Netanyahu expected to press Trump to include limitations on Tehran\u2019s missiles in US-Iran deal tehran Iran\u2019s missile capabilities are its red line and are not a subject to be negotiated, an adviser to Iran\u2019s supreme leader said on Wednesday, as Tehran and Washington eye a new round of talks to avert conflict. US and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":530870,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-530849","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n