Israeli PM’s office dismisses report of backdoor talks with former US official on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has denied a report suggesting former US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz pushed him for military action against Iran’s nuclear sites, rejecting claims that the two had “intensive contact” on the matter.

“Contrary to the Washington Post report, PM Netanyahu did not have intensive contact with Mike Waltz on Iran,” Netanyahu’s office said, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.  

The statement came in response to a Washington Post article citing unnamed sources who claimed Waltz, a former Florida congressman, urged a military option over diplomacy — reportedly unsettling President Trump. 

According to Netanyahu’s office, “PM Netanyahu had a warm meeting with Mike Waltz and Steve Witkoff at Blair House in February prior to the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump at the White House.” The statement added that Waltz later joined a meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Netanyahu, and that a subsequent phone conversation between Netanyahu, Waltz, and Witkoff “did not deal with Iran.” 

The denial contradicts claims from Trump advisers and officials who suggested Waltz’s hawkish stance contributed to his ouster. “It got back to Trump and the president wasn’t happy with it,” one source said. 

Waltz said earlier this week that Trump remains open to “all options,” including military force, to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and the president has been there repeatedly and he is absolutely serious about it,” he said.

Still, Trump struck a more measured tone, saying, “We’re not getting dragged in” to war with Iran, although he added, “It’s possible we’ll have to attack because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”

By Naila Huseynova