Netanyahu heads to US with Iran on talks agenda

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took off on September 17 night on his first official trip to the United States since the formation of his government approximately nine months ago.

Following a two-day Rosh Hashanah holiday, Netanyahu and his entourage departed for the airport. The highlight of his visit is anticipated to be his address at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on September 15 morning Eastern Time.

"I am now leaving for the UN General Assembly where I will represent Israel before the nations of the world," the prime minister said as he boarded the plane, reports The Jerusalem Post. "I will also meet with many world leaders, especially President Biden, with whom I will discuss – first and foremost, but among other topics – Iran and expanding the circle of peace."

The White House and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had greenlit the long-awaited meeting between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, marking their first encounter since Netanyahu assumed office at the end of December 2022. While Netanyahu had been eagerly awaiting an invitation from the White House, it has yet to materialize. Instead, the two leaders are scheduled to meet at the UN on September 13, according to the PMO. Netanyahu is expected to discuss the Iranian issue with the US president.

During his visit, Netanyahu is expected to hold meetings with several additional international leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Schulz, Turkish President Recep Erdogan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, South Korean President Yoon Seok-Yeol, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and others.

"I must say that it is moving to see the many requests for meetings," Netanyahu said. "Unfortunately, I cannot meet with all the leaders who made requests but I hope to meet with most of them."

Netanyahu will state at the UNGA that "Iran is violating all of its commitments, that it brazenly lies, and that it intends both to develop nuclear weapons and continue its aggression in the region. We will confront both of these together.