Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Wednesday from Canberra that he hoped the meeting in Washington between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu allows for the retreat of what he has called Iran’s “evil empire”, while opening “a prospect of peace” in the region, particularly in the next phase of the American plan for Gaza.
This highly anticipated meeting comes as diplomatic and military pressure intensifies on Iran. Washington has strengthened its presence in the region and is sending increasingly firm messages, while Jerusalem continues to view Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs as an existential threat.
According to several Israeli security sources, the possibility of a targeted strike against strategic Iranian infrastructure remains on the table should the United States conclude an agreement deemed too favorable to Tehran. Technical discussions have reportedly already taken place at the Pentagon regarding the neutralization of Iranian ballistic missile capabilities.
For Herzog, the issue goes beyond the nuclear question alone. According to him, it is about "creating the conditions for a better future" by permanently weakening Tehran's regional influence, whose role in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen remains at the heart of Israeli concerns.
