In a high-stakes meeting in Paris on April 18, 2025, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad director David Barnea sat down with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to hash out worries over upcoming U.S.-Iran nuclear talks set for April 19 in Rome. The gathering, detailed by The Jerusalem Post and The Times of Israel, was Israel’s push to shape Washington’s approach as fears grow that Iran might game the negotiations to inch closer to a nuclear weapon. With tensions simmering and stakes sky-high, this closed-door huddle shines a light on the delicate dance between Israel, the U.S., and a defiant Iran.
The Paris talks came hot on the heels of a surprise U.S. announcement that rattled Jerusalem. On April 7, during a White House visit, President Donald Trump publicly revealed plans to negotiate directly with Iran, catching Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu off guard, according to Maariv’s Mike Herzog, a former ambassador to Washington. Israel’s big concern is that Iran could stall talks to buy time for its nuclear program or that the U.S. might settle for a weak deal that leaves Iran’s nuclear setup intact. Netanyahu’s been vocal about wanting a “Libyan model”—where Iran’s nuclear facilities are completely dismantled—a goal Herzog says Tehran’s unlikely to swallow.
Dermer, a trusted Netanyahu confidant, and Barnea, known for his hawkish stance on Iran, likely pressed Witkoff to keep the pressure on. Barnea’s got a history of dropping bombshells—like in 2022, when he shared critical intelligence with U.S. officials to highlight Iran’s nuclear advances, per Iran International. They probably laid out evidence of Iran’s latest moves, like ramping up uranium enrichment to 60% with advanced IR-6 centrifuges, as noted by Newsweek. Israel’s itching to know the U.S. game plan: Will talks tackle Iran’s missile program? What’s the red line if Iran balks? And most crucially, would the U.S. back—or join—an Israeli military strike if things go south, a question Herzog raised in Maariv?
Israel’s mood is a mix of resolve and unease. Those backing the meeting hope it’ll sync up with Trump’s tough talk, which includes threats of military action if Iran doesn’t play ball, per BBC News. They lean on Mossad’s cred—like when Netanyahu unveiled Iran’s stolen nuclear archive in 2018, swaying Trump to ditch the 2015 deal—as proof Israel can steer U.S. policy. But doubters worry Trump’s team, with Witkoff juggling Gaza and Houthi issues, might cut a deal that shortchanges Israel’s security, a fear The Washington Post flagged. Some see echoes of past talks where Iran outfoxed negotiators, a point Herzog drives home when he warns of Tehran’s knack for stalling.
Not everyone’s sold on the meeting’s weight. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi scoffed at pressure, saying Tehran “will never bend to coercion,” per BBC News. Trump’s mixed signals—pushing for a deal while warning Iran of “trouble”—leave folks guessing about his commitment to Israel’s hardline stance, as AP News noted. Plus, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s reports on Iran’s near-weapons-grade uranium stockpile add urgency but complicate things—can talks really stop a program that’s so far along?
This Paris powwow is just one piece of a bigger puzzle. Israel’s not only sweating Iran’s nukes—Netanyahu’s eyeing a chance to keep Iran’s weakened proxies, like Hezbollah, on the ropes, per AP News. Whether Dermer and Barnea got through to Witkoff is anyone’s guess, but with Rome’s talks kicking off tomorrow, Israel’s fighting to make sure its concerns don’t get sidelined. It’s a tense moment in a high-stakes game, and every move counts as the world watches to see who comes out ahead.