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House Speaker Offers to Host Netanyahu if Biden Doesn't Send an Invite

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a Knesset session with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (EPA)
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a Knesset session with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (EPA)
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House Speaker Offers to Host Netanyahu if Biden Doesn't Send an Invite

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a Knesset session with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (EPA)
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a Knesset session with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (EPA)

The US House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, voiced in Tel Aviv dissatisfaction with US President Joe Biden for failing to invite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House.

The Speaker said if Biden does not invite Netanyahu to Washington soon, he'll invite "the prime minister to come to meet with the House," reported Israel Hayom.

McCarthy, who represents the Republican Party, is considered one of the most influential figures in the US politics. He indicated that the exact visit date has yet to be determined.

"If that [a visit to the White House] doesn't happen, I'll invite the prime minister to meet with the House. He's a dear friend, as a prime minister of a country that we have our closest ties with," McCarthy said.

"President Biden hasn't talked to me about the debt ceiling for the last 80 some days, so I think he, the prime minister, might be in good company if he treats me the same way," he told the Israeli outlet.

McCarthy arrived in Israel Sunday at the invitation of the Israeli Speaker, Amir Ohana, who indicated upon his reception at the airport that the US guest chose the Knesset as the first parliament to visit since entering office.

He chaired a delegation of 16 additional bipartisan representatives, and Netanyahu hosted them for lunch at the David Hotel.

Later, the presidential office issued a statement announcing that the President, Isaac Herzog, discussed with the House Speaker the strong partnership between Israel and the United States.

The statement hailed the US as Israel's "very close ally."

McCarthy told Herzog that the bipartisan representation on the trip is meant to underscore "that there are no greater and deeper relations between countries than between ours."

In the evening, McCarthy addressed the Knesset, saying that the Abraham Accords were milestones and the administration "should get further behind the Abraham Accords and grow them even bigger."

Ohana hosted a dinner in honor of McCarthy on Sunday night. After the main course, songs were played.

During the song "Hotel California," Knesset Speaker took the stage with his electric guitar and played the Eagles' classic.

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Tehran Ready for Negotiations with Washington ‘Based on Trust’

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani. (Jamaran news)
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani. (Jamaran news)
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Tehran Ready for Negotiations with Washington ‘Based on Trust’

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani. (Jamaran news)
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani. (Jamaran news)

The Iranian government stated on Tuesday that upcoming negotiations in Geneva over its nuclear program will be guided by the directives of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the interests of the Iranian people.

Iran plans to hold talks on Friday in Geneva with France, Britain and Germany, following a recent resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censuring Tehran for its lack of cooperation on its nuclear activities.

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed that the meeting between Iran’s deputy foreign minister and representatives from the three European nations will proceed under the framework of “national interests as emphasized by the Supreme Leader.” She noted that discussions will encompass bilateral, regional and international issues, including the crises in Gaza and Lebanon and broader efforts to promote peace in the region.

Asked about the possibility of direct negotiations with the United States, Mohajerani stated that Tehran is “open to considering any proposal aligned with its national interests.” However, she stressed that “dialogue requires respect and trust, which cannot be built through mere rhetoric.”

Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for International Affairs, will lead the Iranian delegation at the Geneva talks, according to Iranian media.

Media outlets close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) expressed cautious optimism about the Geneva talks, but tempered expectations. The IRGC-affiliated Nour News described the meeting as a “small but significant opportunity for both sides to find common ground and reduce unnecessary tensions that have strained their relations in recent years.”

Both Iran and its European counterparts appear inclined to pursue de-escalation and resume diplomatic channels to resolve disputes, it reported. Analysts quoted by the site characterized the talks as “an essential step in rebuilding trust between Iran and Europe.” If sustained, these efforts could end the two-year stalemate in negotiations over the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The IAEA’s Board of Governors recently passed a resolution urging Iran to increase its cooperation with the agency. The resolution called for the IAEA Director General to deliver “a comprehensive and updated assessment on the possible presence or use of undeclared nuclear materials in connection with Iran’s past and current nuclear activities.”

Western powers, including the United States, France, Britain and Germany, dismissed Iran’s last-minute proposal to limit its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium—close to weapons-grade—as “inadequate and insincere.”

In response, Iran announced the activation of advanced centrifuges at its Fordow and Natanz uranium enrichment facilities.

Despite the heightened tensions, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei underscored Tehran’s commitment to a policy of engagement and cooperation. He framed the upcoming talks as a continuation of discussions held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Iranian media claimed that Tehran has refrained from actions that could complicate negotiations in recent months. However, they accused European powers of taking “unconstructive measures” that have hindered the diplomatic process.