Iran Urges US to Reject ‘Destructive’ Israeli Pressure Ahead of Netanyahu Visit
Iran warned the US to avoid “destructive” Israeli pressures that could sabotage the ongoing talks regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.
The warning came ahead of a scheduled visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington on Wednesday, where he will meet with US President Donald Trump.
Destructive Influence
The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Esmail Baqaei, called on Washington to resist Israeli pressures regarding the US-Iran nuclear talks, reported AFP.
“Our negotiating party is America. It is up to America to decide to act independently of the pressures and destructive influences that are detrimental to the region,” Baqaei said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
He accused Israel of undermining diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving regional peace. “(Israel) has repeatedly, as a saboteur, shown that it opposes any diplomatic process in our region that leads to peace,” the Iranian official added.
“Israel has turned our nuclear program into an artificial crisis and is trying to raise unfounded fears about a nuclear bomb that does not exist in Iran,” Baqaei noted, emphasizing Iran’s commitment to diplomacy while taking into account “past negative experiences.”
Nuclear Talks
The US and Iran held high-stakes talks in Oman on Friday, amid soaring tensions between the two countries over Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed that the Omani-mediated talks were strictly limited to Iran’s nuclear program, describing the first round of negotiations as a “good start.”
Similarly, Trump said that the talks with Iran were “very good,” adding that another meeting would take place early next week. However, he warned Iran of a “big fleet” approaching if they failed to secure a deal.
Conditional Concession
On Monday, Iran signaled readiness to dilute its highly enriched uranium in exchange for the full removal of sanctions, reported Iran’s ISNA news agency.
“The possibility of diluting 60% enriched uranium … depends on whether, in return, all sanctions are lifted or not,” the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, said.
The US demands the removal of Iran’s 440 kg stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity. This level of enrichment sits just a technical step away from the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade material.
Netanyahu’s Washington Visit
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will visit Washington on Wednesday for talks with Trump, which will likely focus on US-Iran negotiations. Israel has long called for halting Iran’s nuclear program, reducing its ballistic missile arsenal and ending Tehran’s support for regional proxies.
“The Prime Minister believes that any negotiations must include limiting ballistic missiles and ending support for the Iranian axis,” Netanyahu’s office said over the weekend.
However, the first round of US-Iran talks did not address Iran’s missile program or support for proxies. In light of this, Netanyahu will likely press for military action against Iran, according to the Associated Press (AP).
In June 2025, the US joined Israel in its 12-day war with Iran, striking key Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump has been ramping up military presence in the Middle East, threatening Iran with a “massive armada” heading toward the country if a nuclear deal is not reached. Against this backdrop, indirect negotiations reopened in Oman last week.
Israeli officials fear that the US could reach a narrow agreement that temporarily halts uranium enrichment. In this context, members of Netanyahu’s cabinet are signaling that Israel may still take unilateral action.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen emphasized to Army Radio on Tuesday that Israel considers Iran’s ballistic missiles a “grave threat,” asserting that Tel Aviv “reserves the option to act” if any agreement fails to secure its security interests.
