US, Israel set to discuss tackling Iran's nuclear program - Axios

The United States and Israel are set to discuss Iran's nuclear program and potential talks with Tehran early next week, Axios reported on Thursday citing Israeli and US officials.

The consultations, planned to take place in the White House according to the report, comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US, with Trump asking Iran's leadership to choose between a deal and potential military confrontation.

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains skeptical about the chances of a new deal and seeks to coordinate a response should tensions escalate to military action, Axios said citing an Israeli official.

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has rejected talks with the US under Trump, recalling that he withdrew the US from a multilateral deal agreed in 2015.

The discussions are expected to be led by Israeli strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and will include senior officials from the the military, Mossad, and Israel's Atomic Energy Commission.

They are set to meet with a US team led by national security adviser Mike Waltz, along with officials from the State Department, Pentagon, and intelligence agencies.

This marks the first gathering of the US.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group since Trump took office.

The forum, which serves as the highest-level platform for U.S.-Israeli discussions on Iran, is expected to lay the groundwork for future policy coordination between the two allies.