Trump and Netanyahu Meet Amidst Secret Iranian Nuclear Intelligence

President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 28, 2026, for their first face-to-face meeting since launching a joint military campaign against Iran five months prior. The visit, marked by high secrecy and Netanyahu's arrival via Nevatim Air Base, focused on ending Iran's nuclear program and stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu presented intelligence alleging that Iran is rebuilding its nuclear infrastructure at the Pickaxe Mountain complex, located underground near Natanz. He argued that Tehran is acting in bad faith, using diplomacy to buy time while restoring drone and missile assets. While Netanyahu pushed for the total collapse of the Iranian regime or a complete halt to its nuclear program, Trump balanced these demands against a desire to stabilize global energy markets and pursue a diplomatic deal.

This meeting followed a strategic pause in U.S. bombing raids, which had lasted 13 consecutive nights. Trump claimed he is engaged in "very friendly" negotiations with Iran, though Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei rejected these reports as fabricated. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel is prepared to strike Iran's energy infrastructure independently if the U.S. continues to withhold approval due to fears of a global oil crisis.

Regional tensions remain volatile. The Iranian military declared a policy of killing one American service member for every Iranian citizen killed in U.S. strikes, while Houthi rebels targeted Saudi energy facilities. Simultaneously, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Trump in Washington to discuss anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation.