UPDATE 2 - US envoy meets with Israeli prime minister for talks on Iran

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By Lina Altawell, Rania Abushamala and Zein Khalil

ISTANBUL/JERUSALEM (AA) - US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Tuesday for talks on Iran, Israeli media reported.

The meeting was also attended by the heads of Israel’s security agencies, Netanyahu’s office told The Times of Israel news portal.

It was held shortly after Witkoff arrived in Israel for talks with senior officials there on the Iranian issue and the implementation of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan.

Later, Netanyahu’s office said the meeting between Netanyahu and Witkoff had concluded.

It added that the prime minister stressed his “uncompromising demand for the disarmament of (the Palestinian group) Hamas, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, and the fulfillment of the war objectives prior to the reconstruction of the Strip.”

“The prime minister clarified that the Palestinian Authority will not be part of the administration of the Gaza Strip in any way,” it said.

Regarding Iran, the statement quoted Netanyahu as telling Witkoff ahead of his expected meeting with a representative of Iran that Tehran “has proven time and again that its promises cannot be relied upon.”

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority (KAN) reported that the meeting, which brought together Witkoff, Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Mossad chief David Barnea, lasted for approximately three and a half hours.

Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul, Türkiye on Friday for talks on Iran’s nuclear program.

The talks come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, fueled by an American military buildup in the Persian Gulf and repeated threats of military action by Trump.

In recent days, several countries have stepped in and offered to mediate between Tehran and Washington to ease tensions, with Türkiye playing a particularly active role.