Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss Iran. The request comes as Israel maintains near-daily strikes in Lebanon and a shaky truce holds between the U.S. and Iran following the death of Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Huge crowds joined the funeral procession for Khamenei and four family members in Tehran. Iranian officials delayed the event for months due to war conditions. Key mediators including officials from Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia attended.
Netanyahu has sought the Trump meeting for some time. A source told NPR he wants U.S. approval for potential Israeli military action against Iran if necessary. Trump is set to attend a NATO summit in Turkey this week, after which the timing of any White House visit remains unclear.
Israel continues strikes in Lebanon that it describes as defensive against Hezbollah. Lebanon's president defended the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, calling it the best option to end the wars despite its flaws. Public anger in Lebanon has focused on U.S. involvement, with protests over billboards marking the Fourth of July.
