As he prepared to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, President Donald Trump said he believes the Israeli leader supports reaching an agreement with Iran and expressed optimism that the current round of nuclear negotiations could succeed.
Speaking with Israeli journalist Barak Ravid of Channel 12 and the Axios news site, Trump reflected on past confrontations with Tehran, referencing the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025 following the breakdown of diplomatic efforts. “Last time they didn’t believe I would do it,” Trump said.
According to the president, Iran misjudged Washington’s resolve. “They overplayed their hand,” he said, contrasting that episode with the current talks, which he described as markedly changed. “We can make a great deal with Iran.”
Trump also rejected suggestions that Netanyahu opposes the ongoing dialogue between Washington and Tehran, including a senior-level meeting held over the weekend in Oman. “He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal,” Trump said of the Israeli prime minister.
The president added that Iran, too, is eager to reach an understanding, saying the country “wants to make a deal very badly.”
At the same time, Trump underscored that the United States is prepared to escalate if negotiations fail. “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” he told Ravid.
Trump further noted the expansion of the US military footprint in the region, saying, “we have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” and added that he is “thinking” about deploying an additional aircraft carrier strike group following recent reinforcements.
{Matzav.com}
An Israeli-Russian journalist was removed Tuesday from Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s flight to Washington, just moments before departure, in an incident that raised questions about security vetting and press access ahead of the prime minister’s meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Nick Kolyohin, an independent journalist who was traveling as part of the press group invited to the White House, was already preparing to board the Prime Minister’s aircraft, known as the “Wing of Zion,” when security personnel stopped him and escorted him off the plane shortly before takeoff.
Kolyohin, who moved to Israel as a child and later served in the IDF, said the decision was made exclusively by security officials. He maintained that no explanation was provided to him at the airport, despite the fact that his participation in the flight had received prior authorization.
The Prime Minister’s Office addressed the incident in a brief statement, saying: “The security authorities decided not to approve the journalist’s participation in the flight due to security considerations, but we cannot provide further details at this stage.”
The Shin Bet also commented, emphasizing its statutory responsibilities. In its statement, the agency said: “According to its mandate and duties under the law, the service is responsible, among other things, for securing the Prime Minister. As part of this, decisions are made to minimize risks to the Prime Minister and the information surrounding him. Naturally, it is not possible to address the reasons behind individual decisions.”
{Matzav.com}
Israeli officials told CNN ahead of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s expected meeting Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump that Iran’s military activity and the dangers it poses will be at the center of the talks.
According to the officials, Netanyahu plans to stress to Trump that Israel must retain the ability to act militarily against Iran, regardless of whether a diplomatic agreement is ultimately reached between Tehran and Washington. “Netanyahu will emphasize to Trump the need for military freedom of action in Iran, even if an agreement is signed between Tehran and Washington,” the officials said.
They added that the prime minister intends to brief Trump on newly obtained intelligence concerning Iran’s military developments, with particular focus on efforts to restore and expand its ballistic missile program.
Israeli assessments indicate that if no steps are taken to stop Iran, the country could amass as many as 2,000 missiles within a matter of weeks or months.
Netanyahu departed for Washington, D.C., earlier today for the diplomatic visit, during which he is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump. This marks Netanyahu’s seventh trip to the United States since Trump’s re-election.
Speaking before leaving Israel, Netanyahu said: “I am now going to the United States for my seventh trip to meet with President Trump since his re-election. This, of course, does not include his unforgettable visit to Israel and his speech in the Knesset.”
He went on to highlight the close ties between the two countries, saying: “I think these things reflect the unique closeness in the exceptional relationship we have with the United States, personally with the president, and with Israel and the United States-a relationship that has never been like this in our history.”
Netanyahu also made clear that Iran will be the primary focus of the discussions, alongside other regional matters. “In this trip, we will discuss a number of issues-Gaza, the region-but of course, first and foremost, the negotiations with Iran. I will present to the president our views on the principles of the negotiations, the important principles, which I believe are important not only for Israel but for anyone in the world who wants peace and security in the Middle East.”
{Matzav.com}
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President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is prepared to use military force against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail to produce an agreement, signaling that force remains an option if negotiations break down.
Speaking in an interview with Channel 12 News, Trump emphasized that his preference is for a negotiated settlement, but made clear that he would not hesitate to act if talks do not succeed. “The Iranians very much want to reach a deal. Either we make a deal, or we will have to do something very tough – like last time,” he said.
Trump also revealed that he is weighing the possibility of further strengthening the U.S. military presence in the region, including the deployment of another aircraft carrier to the Middle East. “We have an armada there, and maybe another one on the way,” the President added.
The comments were made ahead of Trump’s scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, which is set to take place Wednesday at the White House.
According to Trump, discussions with Netanyahu will center largely on Iran. He added that the Israeli prime minister is not feeling undue pressure from the ongoing negotiations, but is similarly interested in a favorable outcome. “I don’t think Netanyahu is pressured by the talks with Iran. He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal.”
{Matzav.com}
Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration wants tangible returns for the significant resources the United States devotes to protecting Greenland and safeguarding broader Arctic and NATO interests in the region.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday on the airport tarmac while traveling from Armenia to Azerbaijan, Vance underscored Greenland’s strategic value. “It’s just very simple: Greenland is very important to the national security of the United States of America,” he said. He added that U.S. partners have not always carried their share of the burden, noting, “I do think that some of our allies have underinvested in Arctic security.”
Vance argued that Washington’s financial and military commitments should be matched with clear advantages for the United States. “And if we’re going to invest in Arctic security — if we’re going to basically pay a lot of money and be on the hook for protecting this massive landmass — I think it’s only reasonable for the United States to get some benefit out of that,” he said, adding that “And that’s going to be the focus of the negotiations here over the next few months.”
From Greenland’s side, Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt cautioned that discussions remain preliminary and not yet aligned with her government’s goals. While welcoming continued dialogue with Washington, she said expectations should be tempered. “We are not there where we want to be yet,” Motzfeldt said at a joint press conference in Nuuk alongside Danish and Canadian officials. “There is going to be a long track, so where we are going to land at the end, it’s too early to say.”
Vance echoed that assessment, indicating that negotiations are still in their early stages. “It’s very early in the Greenland talks,” he said. “I know that, you know, we’ve been working quite a bit on this over the last few weeks.”
At the same time, NATO is preparing to increase its Arctic footprint. Five sources told Reuters that the alliance is expected to roll out an Arctic Sentry mission in the coming days as part of an effort to strengthen its regional presence and ease tensions between President Donald Trump and European governments.
According to Reuters, the formal decision could be made as soon as this week, when NATO defense ministers gather in Brussels. The report cited three European diplomats, a military official, and another person familiar with the discussions.
The evolving situation prompted sharp comments from French President Emmanuel Macron, who warned Europe to prepare for continued friction with Washington. He described the recent focus on Greenland as a signal that the European Union must accelerate overdue economic reforms and bolster its global influence.
In interviews published Tuesday across several European newspapers, Macron said Europeans should not assume that a temporary easing of disputes with Washington signals a durable change, even if tensions over Greenland, trade, and technology appear to have cooled. “When there’s a clear act of aggression, I think what we should do isn’t bow down or try to reach a settlement,” Macron said in comments to outlets including Le Monde and the Financial Times. “I think we’ve tried that strategy for months.”
“It’s not working,” he added.
Macron went further, accusing the Trump administration of taking a hostile posture toward Europe and aiming for the bloc’s fragmentation. He said the administration was being “openly anti-European” and seeking the EU’s “dismemberment.”
He also warned that new disputes could soon emerge over technology regulation. “The U.S. will, in the coming months — that’s certain — attack us over digital regulation,” Macron said, pointing to the possibility of American tariffs if the EU uses its Digital Services Act to rein in major technology companies.
Renewing his push for joint European borrowing, Macron argued that tools such as eurobonds would allow the EU to invest on a scale large enough to compete globally and reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.
European Union leaders are scheduled to convene in Brussels on Thursday, where they are expected to weigh steps aimed at strengthening the EU economy and improving its ability to compete with both the United States and China internationally.
{Matzav.com}Federal investigators on Tuesday made public the first surveillance images of what they described as a “potential subject” as the investigation intensifies into the disappearance and alleged kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie.
FBI Director Kash Patel released the photographs along with two video clips in a post on X on Tuesday afternoon, as authorities continue to piece together events surrounding Guthrie’s disappearance.
“Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors – including the removal of recording devices,” Patel wrote.
According to Patel, the newly obtained footage was retrieved from residual data stored within backend systems. The images and video depict a person wearing a backpack, long sleeves, and pants approaching the front door, attempting to block the camera with a gloved hand. The individual is then seen turning away, grabbing nearby plants, and placing them in front of the camera.
Investigators had previously hoped that surveillance cameras at the residence would shed light on how Guthrie vanished. However, the doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday, and although movement was logged by software shortly afterward, the footage could not be recovered because Guthrie did not have an active subscription, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said earlier.
Working with additional partners, authorities were later able to retrieve material that had not been accessible before. “Working with our partners – as of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” Patel said.
Officials urged anyone with information to contact federal authorities by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting tips through http://tips.fbi.gov.
Nancy Guthrie has been missing since Sunday, February 1, after she failed to appear at church services. She was last seen the previous evening at approximately 9:45 p.m., following dinner at the Tucson, Arizona, home of her daughter, Annie Guthrie.
Earlier this week, the FBI said there has been no known communication between Savannah Guthrie and any potential kidnappers more than a week after her mother disappeared. Authorities have also stated that no suspects or persons of interest have been identified. In a video shared on social media Monday afternoon, Savannah Guthrie described the situation as an “hour of desperation.”
“Please. bring her home. we need you. she needs you. all of you,” the caption accompanying the video reads.
Meanwhile, three media outlets reported receiving alleged ransom letters, with at least one including monetary demands and deadlines. One deadline passed Thursday and another on Monday evening, though officials said it remains unclear whether the letters are genuine.
The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to progress in the case.
Sheriff Nanos also disclosed that DNA testing confirmed blood found on Guthrie’s front porch belonged to her. Investigators said there is currently no proof of life, though they remain hopeful she is “still out there.” Authorities noted that Guthrie requires daily medication for reported high blood pressure and heart conditions, including a pacemaker.
Law enforcement personnel continue to maintain a presence at Guthrie’s home and plan to broaden search efforts. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said officers will persist with operations Tuesday, “including the expansion of the search and follow-up on new leads.”
{Matzav.com}
