Israel Holds Secret Nuclear Talks with U.S. Ahead of Iran Negotiations
Israeli officials meet with U.S. envoy in Paris to influence American stance before second round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Rome.
Watan-Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer secretly traveled to Paris to meet with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff for talks on Iran’s nuclear file, according to a report by the Hebrew-language Walla news site on Friday, citing three unnamed Israeli sources familiar with the matter. A separate report by Axios confirmed that Mossad chief David Barnea also traveled to attend the meeting.
The meeting with Witkoff is taking place ahead of the second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran, scheduled for tomorrow in Rome. Israel reportedly seeks to clarify its stance and influence the American position during the negotiations. Neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office nor the White House has commented on the matter.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN also reported that Dermer and Barnea are scheduled to meet Witkoff in Paris today. Citing an unnamed Israeli official, the outlet stated that the discussions would focus primarily on Iran—not the negotiations concerning Gaza.
Witkoff, Macron Discuss Iran Amid Ceasefire Talks in Paris
Witkoff met Thursday in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and senior representatives from the UK and Germany. While those talks primarily focused on efforts to achieve a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the Iranian file was also addressed.
According to the Hebrew site, a source familiar with the details of the Paris talks said that Witkoff emphasized the Trump administration’s aim to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis diplomatically and to reach an agreement preventing Tehran from further enriching uranium.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated yesterday in a conversation with reporters that he is in no rush to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, as he believes Iran is open to dialogue. Trump said, “I don’t want to do anything that harms anyone, but Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want to take away their industry or land—just ensure they don’t have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump reportedly made the decision to pursue negotiations with Iran after months of internal debate over whether to pursue diplomacy or back Israel’s efforts to curb Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear bomb. His team was reportedly divided between supporters of military action and those who believed an attack would not succeed in fully dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
