Rubio Visits Israel at the End of the Month Amid Rising Tensions with Iran

SadaNews - An American official announced that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Israel on February 28 to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

The official, who requested anonymity, told Agence France-Presse that the visit comes in the context of consultations regarding regional developments, particularly the Iranian file.

Netanyahu had visited Washington last week and held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, where he called for a hardline approach towards Iran. In June, Israel launched an attack on Iran that led to a 12-day war, during which the United States joined in striking key nuclear sites.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration sent envoys to Geneva for indirect negotiations with Iranian officials mediated by Oman. While Tehran announced progress in the talks, Trump hinted at the possibility of military intervention and ordered the mobilization of U.S. forces near Iranian territory.

These developments come after a widespread crackdown by Iranian authorities last month against internal protests that, according to human rights organizations, resulted in the deaths of thousands of protesters, further escalating tensions in the region.