JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Wednesday with CIA chief John Ratcliffe in Jerusalem, a statement from the premier’s office said.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the head of the American Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe, along with the head of the Mossad, Dadi (David) Barnea,” the statement said, days before the US is due to hold nuclear talks with Iran and amid continued attempts to revive a Gaza ceasefire.

Netanyahu returned from Washington on Wednesday morning following a meeting in the White House where President Donald Trump made a shock announcement that the US was starting direct, high-level talks with Iran over its nuclear programme this coming Saturday.

Following the announcement, however, Netanyahu said that “the military option” would become “inevitable” if talks between Washington and Tehran dragged on.

“We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said in a video statement ahead of his return to Israel.

“This can be done in an agreement, but only if… they go in, blow up (Iran’s) facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision”, he said, adding that if talks drag on, “then the military option becomes inevitable”.

Also during their meeting, the two leaders said that new negotiations were in the works aimed at getting more hostages released from captivity in Gaza. The United States, Qatar and Egypt brokered a fragile ceasefire whose first phase took effect on January 19.

The ceasefire lasted until March 18, with Israel resuming intense air strikes on Gaza.

The truce had allowed the return of 33 Israeli prisoners, eight of whom were dead, in exchange for the release of some 1,800 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2025