Timeline
February 11, 2026 — February 17, 2026
World
Timeline: How U.S.-Israel Tensions Over Iran Nuclear Talks Unfolded in February 2026
In February 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump navigated complex diplomatic terrain as Washington pursued nuclear negotiations with Iran while Tel Aviv pushed for military options. The timeline reveals deepening strategic coordination alongside fundamental disagreements about whether to pursue a deal or strikes against Tehran's nuclear and missile programs.
9 events · 5 days · 30 source articles
Wed, Feb 11, 2026
Moderate
Netanyahu Meeting Accelerated Due to Iran Talks
Netanyahu's scheduled February 18 visit to Washington was moved up to February 11 after the U.S. renewed nuclear negotiations with Iran the previous week. The Israeli leader sought to ensure Israel's concerns would be included in any potential deal with Tehran, particularly regarding Iran's missile arsenal which Tehran insisted was non-negotiable.
Wed, Feb 11, 2026
Major
Netanyahu and Trump Hold White House Meeting
Netanyahu spent nearly three hours at the White House in a meeting that remained private, with no press questions allowed. Trump later described it as 'a very good meeting' and said he insisted that negotiations with Iran continue, stating his preference for reaching a deal while warning of unspecified consequences if negotiations failed.
Mon, Dec 1, 2025
Major
Trump Privately Pledged Support for Strikes on Iran (Revealed February 15)
CBS News reported that during a December 2025 meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump told Netanyahu he would support Israeli strikes on Iran's ballistic missile program if Washington and Tehran could not reach a deal. This revelation, which surfaced in mid-February, indicated Trump had given Netanyahu a military green light months before public negotiations began.
Sun, Feb 15, 2026
Major
U.S. and Israel Align on 'Maximum Pressure' Strategy
Reports confirmed that Trump and Netanyahu agreed to intensify economic pressure on Iran, targeting its vital oil exports to China through a 25% tariff on nations doing business with Iran. However, deep rifts emerged over the ultimate goal: Trump sought a diplomatic deal while analysts suggested Israel was pushing for military confrontation to provide cover for West Bank annexation plans.
Sun, Feb 15, 2026
Major
U.S. Military Begins Planning for Support of Israeli Strikes
CBS News revealed that internal discussions among senior U.S. military and intelligence officials had begun contemplating how to support potential Israeli strikes on Iran. The deliberations focused on providing aerial refueling for Israeli aircraft and obtaining overflight permissions from countries along potential flight paths, though Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE had publicly stated they would not grant such permissions.
Sun, Feb 15, 2026
Moderate
Netanyahu Expresses Skepticism About Iran Deal
Speaking at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said he was 'very skeptical' about any future deal with Iran. He told the conference that while Trump believed Iran wanted to reach an agreement after missing an earlier chance, Netanyahu raised concerns that 'the Iranians are lying' and emphasized that 'Iran is reliable on one thing' – implying its untrustworthiness.
Mon, Feb 16, 2026
Major
Netanyahu Outlines Demands for Dismantling Iran's Nuclear Infrastructure
Netanyahu publicly detailed his conditions for any U.S.-Iran deal, demanding the complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear enrichment infrastructure. He insisted that all enriched uranium must leave Iran and that Tehran should have 'no enrichment capability,' going beyond merely halting enrichment to destroying the equipment and infrastructure that enables it. These demands came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi headed to Switzerland for a second round of nuclear talks.
Mon, Feb 16, 2026
Moderate
Strategic Differences Between U.S. and Israel Become Clear
Analysis highlighted the fundamental divergence in approach: while both nations wanted to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, Trump was pursuing diplomatic engagement with potential concessions, while Netanyahu pushed for maximalist demands that would likely scuttle any agreement. Iran indicated willingness to discuss compromises on its nuclear program if the U.S. would lift sanctions, but regarded zero enrichment as a 'red line.'
Tue, Feb 17, 2026
Major
Trump Confirms Indirect Participation in Geneva Talks
President Trump announced he would participate 'indirectly' in Tuesday's Geneva negotiations, represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump expressed hope that Tehran wanted a deal, warning that 'they don't want to face the consequences of not making a deal' and referencing previous U.S. bombardments of Iran. The talks were set to proceed with Oman mediating between U.S. and Iranian delegations.
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