U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 28, amid ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, a U.S. Administration official confirmed Wednesday.
The visit comes after a second round of indirect talks between U.S. And Iranian delegations concluded in Geneva on Tuesday, mediated by Oman. Both countries acknowledged some progress but emphasized significant differences remain. The discussions, the first formal meetings since a brief conflict in June triggered by Israeli and, briefly, U.S. Strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, are aimed at addressing U.S. Concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the U.S. Believes Iran “would be wise” to reach an agreement. Leavitt as well noted that President Donald Trump has previously authorized military action against Iran, including “Operation Midnight Hammer,” which she described as having “completely obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities.” She reiterated that diplomacy remains the administration’s first option.
Netanyahu, who recently met with Trump in Washington, is known to favor a hardline stance against Iran. Rubio’s visit is intended to update the Israeli Prime Minister on the status of the Geneva talks. The U.S. And Iran resumed discussions on February 6 in Oman, following the June conflict.
While officials from both the U.S. And Iran have publicly expressed cautious optimism, significant obstacles remain. The White House indicated that it expects Iran to deliver a written proposal addressing U.S. Concerns in the coming weeks. Top national security officials convened Wednesday in the White House Situation Room to discuss Iran, and officials are preparing for the possibility of military action, with “full forces” expected to be in place by mid-March, according to a senior U.S. Official.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance described the recent talks as having “went well” in an interview with Fox News Channel. However, the administration has not provided a specific timeline for when Iran is expected to respond with its written proposal.
