Video: Netanyahu reveals three options discussed wth Trump on Iran
Abdullateef Fowewe
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu says he and US President Donald Trump weighed three approaches to Iran during a recent Oval Office meeting: a negotiated agreement, military action or intensified economic pressure and blockade.
In separate remarks to settlers, Netanyahu also hailed what he said were 104 newly established or legalised West Bank communities and 160 farms, pledging that more would follow.
Speaking about his White House discussion with Trump, Netanyahu said the first route was diplomacy.
“Of course, you can make a deal. A good deal we have no objection,” Netanyahu said, while adding that he doubted an agreement could be reached with Iran’s leadership.
He described the second course as a “kinetic option” —military action and said Israel would respond forcefully to any Iranian attack.
“We will defend ourselves; we will not allow Iran to attack us,” he said.
The third option, Netanyahu said, was to “tighten the siege” on Tehran through a continuing blockade and increased economic pressure, linking the approach to Washington’s expanded sanctions campaign.
White House meeting similarly said the leaders discussed a negotiated deal, a blockade and economic pressure, or stepped-up military action against Iran’s nuclear programme.
At a gathering of settlers, Netanyahu praised settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and said his government would press ahead despite international opposition.
“We cannot ignore the numbers: 104 communities that we established and legalised together, and 160 farms, with more to come,” he said.
He told the audience they were “fulfilling the vision of the Land of Israel” and declared, “This is our land.”
Netanyahu also said the settlements were laying the groundwork for what he called “a very large wave of immigration.”
The remarks underline Netanyahu’s twin policy emphasis, maintaining a flexible US-Israel strategy on Iran spanning diplomacy, economic coercion and possible force while seeking to deepen Israeli settlement presence and territorial control in the West Bank.
