Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded his one-day state visit to the United Kingdom this morning, where the Israeli leader – who also serves as Defense Minister – held meetings with his British counterparts Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace, as well as U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.Just ahead of his return home from London, Netanyahu said his discussions touched on a variety of regional challenges – particularly those posed by Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Hezbollah. Specifically regarding his meeting with the Defense Secretary Esper, Israel’s own Defense Minister underlined the close relations between Jerusalem and Washington which have never been stronger.
Meanwhile in related developments, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said during a later appearance at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank in London this morning that is appears Iran is inching toward a place where negotiations could be held. The remark came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump left the door open to a possible meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the upcoming opening of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on September 17th.