Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the meetings between Trump, Netanyahu, and Zelenskyy
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Stateside Richard Arnold, morning. Hey, Mike.
What were the reasons for Netanyahu and Zelenskyy meeting Trump in Washington?
It's quite the calling card day today, isn't it, with Netanyahu and Zelensky?
Sure is. Two major wars in Iran and Ukraine. Having representatives speaking with Trump, so are those wars pulling closer? Trump has been holding discussion sessions with Netanyahu and Zelensky, both in Washington, for the funeral of military hawk senator Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly 17 days back. This is the first time since the start of the Iran war that Bibi and Trump... We've met in person. Many have speculated it was the Israeli leader who sold the American president on the war in the first place. Didn't turn out the way that Trump had hoped, obviously. He thought it would be done in a few days, just like the military move in Venezuela, even though Trump advisers warned that Iran was vastly different.
This time Netanyahu is pushing for further military escalation. After the Israelis leaked claims that some of Iran's nuclear program was moved to a site south of Tehran, a location called Pickaxe Mountain, where there are said to be centrifuges and perhaps some enriched uranium as well. So much for the initial Trump claim that Iran's nuclear program was, quote, unquote, obliterated. Trump was asked about this on Fox News today, and he seemed annoyed at the latest Israeli political campaign.
He was asked... Satellite imagery and intel indicates that Iran is actively constructing and fortifying Pickaxe Mountain. How will we respond?
Yeah. Well, I don't need BB to tell me that. BB's telling me that because he wants me to stay involved. We know exactly what's going on. But no, I heard Bibi announce that. I said, why didn't you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world?
How did Netanyahu push for military escalation over Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain claims?
I know exactly what's going on at Pickaxe. It's not a big problem. We took out their nuclear sites and we'll have to take out Pickaxe if we don't make a deal. If we don't make a deal, we'll take it out very easily.
So this is the seventh U.S. visit by Netanyahu since Trump took office for his second term. There are obviously strains. Some are describing Netanyahu as a problem maker as Trump tries to get out of this war situation. Israel's Defence Minister Katz says his country wants very much to continue striking energy targets in Iran, but the US is now holding off as Trump reviews his limited options. Meantime, there is Ukraine, and Zelensky says his country has gathered evidence that Russia is providing Iran with satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and US military bases in the region. Zelensky wants to press Trump to tighten military ties with Ukraine by arguing that their war with Russia and the war in the Middle East are intertwined.
Just this week, Ukraine struck an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, charging they were conveying military cargo between Iran and Russia without specifying just what. Ukraine has been on the military upswing of late, saying that their country sent some 200 military experts... off to the Middle East to help U.S. allies defend against Iranian drones. However, we are approaching a new season in Ukraine, as Zelensky claims Russia is seeking 30,000 more troops from North Korea to fight on the Ukrainian battle lines, as these wars seem to be expanding in ways that were not initially predicted.
And I've just been watching Trump and the eulogy at Lindsay's funeral.
Yeah, Trump is attending the funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral for the late senator. He was first to speak describing how the senator's father was a bar owner.
As Lindsay said, his father taught him the key to being a successful bar owner is that you have to be funny enough that people will keep coming back. and that you have to be tough enough that you can stay in business and thrive. A very difficult combination.
Which some still try to take on board. Trump and Graham were at sharp odds, of course, when they were competing for the presidential nod in the Grammys in 2016. After that, Graham ingratiated himself with Trump in order to keep some influence, and they played golf together at times.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:02
2
What were the reasons for Netanyahu and Zelenskyy meeting Trump in Washington?
0:02–1:33
3
How did Netanyahu push for military escalation over Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain claims?
1:33–5:05
4
How did Trump respond publicly to Israeli claims about Iran’s nuclear sites?
5:05–5:26
Speakers
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