Israel wants President Donald Trump to push for limits for Iran's ballistic missiles. Experts say Iran won't budge.

According to Prof. Amatzia Baram of the University of Haifa, political optics weigh heavily in Washington, making a strong, enforceable nuclear deal the top priority.

Analysts believe PM Netanyahu is urging the US towards maximalist strikes.

Many people in Tehran and Tel Aviv are worried that Trump will make good on his threats to attack Iran again, but for some, it's fear laced with hope.

The regime does not want to capitulate to the United States, but it also seeks to avoid losing power, prompting a bazaar-style negotiation aimed at preserving core assets.

Iran has warned it could wipe out US forces in the Middle East. The threat comes amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. The United States has vowed not to back down, while Iran has deployed hundreds of drones and positioned missiles across the region.

The spectre of heightened conflict between the United States and Iran has returned to the forefront of global security concerns in February 2026 as military and diplomatic developments unfold simultaneously.