While the Prime Minister is conducting his visit to Washington, from which his closeness to the American president is evident, Reuters reported that the two understand that the impact of the attacks on Iran is"short-term" - and there is a wide gap between them regarding what will happen next. Netanyahu aims to use more force in an attempt to overthrow the regime, Trump is eager to be a"peacemaker" - and how does this also affect Gaza?

Ilana Curiel, Washington,

Reuters

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump

Meetings were held in recent days at the White House

, who were mostly engaged in negotiating a deal in Gaza, and presented close relations - especially after the joint and historic attacks on Iran.

But behind the show of unity and the descriptions of the campaign's success, there are differences of opinion regarding their ultimate goals in Iran, Gaza and the Middle East in general. According to a report last night (Tuesday) in the Reuters news agency, which quoted two diplomats as saying that the two understand that this victory is more"short-term" than strategic. This is in the shadow of intelligence assessments indicating that Iran has a hidden stockpile of enriched uranium and

Technical ability to restore itself

.

The bone of contention between the leaders, according to the diplomats, is how to apply further pressure on the Islamic Republic. According to them, the American president prefers to rely on diplomacy with a"limited" goal, which would include a promise that Iran will never develop nuclear weapons.

In contrast, according to a source"familiar with the Israeli leader's thinking," Reuters reported, Netanyahu is interested in using more force - which would force Tehran - to the point of government collapse if necessary - to make substantial concessions regarding the nuclear enrichment program. This, he said, is in light of the fact that Israel considers the nuclear program an existential threat to it.

According to the report, the division around Iran

Also echoes the situation in the Gaza Strip

Trump, it is written, is eager to present himself as a global peacemaker, pushing for another ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. However, the contours of any deal for the “day after” of the war are still unclear to him, and the vision for the end is uncertain.

Netanyahu, while publicly supporting the ceasefire talks, says he is committed to the complete dismantling of Hamas, wants the remaining Hamas leadership to be deported, possibly to Algeria - a demand Hamas strongly rejects. Two Middle East sources told the news agency that the gap between a merely temporary solution and a lasting one"remains wide."

7 Viewing the gallery

Strategic disputes. Trump and Netanyahu in the White House (Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO)

(Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO)

Regarding Iran, Netanyahu was"not pleased" to see Washington renew nuclear talks with Tehran, as President Trump stated in their meeting, the first since the attacks. This is according to the source"familiar with his thinking," who added that the prime minister opposes any step that could provide the Iranian authorities with "an economic and political lifeline."

Netanyahu's model - versus Trump's ambition for achievement

According to the same source, Netanyahu is interested in applying the"Libya model" to Iran - meaning the complete dismantling of its nuclear and missile facilities under strict supervision, and the abandonment of all uranium enrichment on the country's soil, even for civilian needs.

Israel, Western and regional sources have said, is not seeking diplomacy but regime change, and Netanyahu knows he needs at least a green light from the White House — if not direct backing — to take further action if Tehran refuses to give up its nuclear ambitions. However, Trump has different goals, diplomats say. After the June attacks, he sees an opportunity to pressure Iran to close a deal and capitalize on a major diplomatic achievement — which would include restoring ties with Iran.

At dinner with the prime minister on Monday, Trump said he would like to lift sanctions on Iran at some point. In a post published by Iranian President Masoud Pazakhian on Tuesday, suggesting that Tehran sees economic ties as a potential component of any deal, he wrote that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei believes American investors will be able to come to Iran"without obstacles."

Reuters writes that Iran's rulers face two "unpleasant" options: renewed attacks if they do not give up their nuclear ambitions - or domestic humiliation if they do. This means, according to the sources, that they may try to"pull out" the talks, without agreeing to completely abandon their nuclear project, while presenting the difficulty to the American president, who is impatient with the agreement and its economic benefits for the United States.

From Israel's perspective, the alternative is clear, said the same person close to Netanyahu: a policy of continued containment through periodic strikes to prevent any renewed nuclear awakening. In Jerusalem, it is believed that the war with Iran has repositioned Israel as the unrivaled military power in the region - more prepared than ever to use force.

Meanwhile, while there are those in Israel and the United States who still hope for regime change in Tehran, Trump appears unwilling to bear the enormous military, political, and economic costs that such a project would require. Trump quickly claimed victory after the attacks on the nuclear sites, and while he said he would consider bombing Iran again if it continued to enrich uranium to alarming levels, he described the June 22 operation as a one-time, bold, and surgical operation.

The diplomatic sources noted that the US may be supporting Israel's military actions, and even providing advanced weapons, but it is mainly betting on economic pressure and diplomatic leverage to force Tehran to comply. The result, they said, is a fragile stalemate - with no clear outcome.

According to a source close to Netanyahu, the prime minister sees a fleeting strategic opportunity, one that requires acceleration, not hesitation. He believes that the time to strike harder is now, before Iran regains its composure. According to him, Iran's air defenses are damaged, its nuclear infrastructure is weakened, its heads are beheaded, and its deterrence is undermined, but Tehran's window of time to reorganize and rebuild will only grow.

Netanyahu meets with Trump's defense secretary at the Pentagon

Meanwhile, Netanyahu continues his visit to the US and in the afternoon arrived at the Pentagon for a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hesseth. At the beginning of the talks, in front of the media, the two thanked each other, in a show of compliments and gratitude, with each trying to surpass the other's gratitude.

In his opening remarks, Netanyahu referred to a picture of a stealth aircraft and said:"We have absolute gratitude and admiration for the American military, for the president. It's amazing. You have the gratitude of the citizens of Israel and the State of Israel. Thank you." In response, Hasseth said that"this is the talent of the US military fighters in the war. It was amazing."

"We sent a message to the world, not just Iran. The B2 pilots sent a message to the world," Trump's defense secretary told Netanyahu. Netanyahu told him:"The whole world noticed. All of Iran noticed. The entire Middle East noticed the strength of our alliance. It was like the roar of two lions. We have admiration and appreciation for everything you've done." He added that the long-term goal, as Trump defined it, is"peace through strength. First comes strength. Then peace. I hope we'll see the fruits soon."

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