White House - February 11, 2026
The Public Message
President Trump met with Prime Minister Netanyahu for just short of three hours and described the meeting as very good, emphasizing the strength of the U.S.–Israel relationship. However, he made clear that no final decision was reached regarding Iran policy.
Trump stated that he did not request the continuation of negotiations with Iran solely to preserve the appearance of diplomatic progress. He clarified to Netanyahu that his current position is to assess whether a rollback agreement is realistically achievable.
Conditional Warning
The President emphasized that if a deal cannot be reached, the consequences will follow. He referenced what he called Operation 'Midnight Hammer,' stating that the last time Iran chose not to reach an agreement, it 'did not work out well for Iran.'
This serves as a clear reminder that the military option remains available and credible.
The Key Word
In his public statement following the meeting, President Trump used a critical word: he said he ‘prefers’ negotiation at this stage rather than military action.
The word 'prefers' is significant. It signals diplomatic openness without eliminating force as a potential outcome. This is not a commitment to restraint — it is a sequencing of strategy.
Strategic Interpretation
The structure of the message suggests a deliberate positioning: diplomacy first, backed by strength. It builds public legitimacy for negotiation while maintaining deterrence.
Whether this represents a genuine diplomatic window or a pre-escalation positioning will depend on Iran’s response and the internal deliberations between Washington and Jerusalem.
More insight on the Trump-Netanyahu meeting shortly
This was very unusual. No press availibitlity. No questions to ponder the situation. I'll have more on this later. Two chess players not wanting their possible moves telegraphed or analysed. Iran's negotatiors are masterful chess players so this was needed.
More insight on the Trump-Netanyahu meeting shortly
No press availibitlity. No questions to ponder the situation. This was very unusual. I'll have more on this later. Two chess players not wanting their possible moves telegraphed or analysed. Iran's negotatiors are masterful chess players so this was needed.