Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump on Wednesday about Iran talks

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday about American talks with Iran, his office said Saturday, while Iran's foreign minister threatened U.S. military bases in the region a day after the discussions.

''The prime minister believes that all negotiations must include limiting the ballistic missiles, and ending support for the Iranian axis,'' Netanyahu's office said in a brief statement, referring to Tehran's support for militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories. Trump and Netanyahu last met in December.

There was no immediate White House comment.

The U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran held indirect talks on Friday in Oman that appeared to return to the starting point on how to approach discussions over Tehran's nuclear program.

Trump called the talks ''very good'' and said more were planned for early next week. Washington was represented by Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear program after sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships to the region amid Tehran's crackdown on nationwide protests that killed thousands.

Gulf Arab nations fear an attack could spark a regional war, with memories fresh of the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told journalists Friday that ''nuclear talks and the resolution of the main issues must take place in a calm atmosphere, without tension and without threats.'' He said that diplomats would return to their capitals, signaling that this round of negotiations was over.

On Saturday, Araghchi told the Al Jazeera satellite news network that if the U.S. attacks Iran, his country doesn't have the ability to strike the U.S. ''and therefore has to attack or retaliate against U.S. bases in the region.''

He said there is ''very, very deep distrust'' after what happened during the previous talks, when the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites during last year's Israel-Iran war.

Araghchi also said the ''missile issue'' and other defense matters are ''in no way negotiable, neither now nor at any time in the future.''

Tehran has maintained that these talks will be only on its nuclear program.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the talks needed to include all those issues.

Israel, a close U.S. ally, believes Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon and wants its program scrapped, though Iran has insisted that its atomic plans are for peaceful purposes. Israel also wants a halt to Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for militant groups in the region.