Mossad chief in Washington for Iran talks with CIA's Ratcliffe as Netanyahu presses Trump on renewed strikes

Mossad Director Roman Gofman was in Washington on Friday to meet CIA Director John Ratcliffe about Iran, The Times of Israel reports, citing Axios and three sources familiar with the matter. One source said Gofman would then fly to Miami for talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff. The Mossad, the CIA and the White House declined to comment.

The trip comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu works to persuade President Trump to launch a renewed military offensive against Iran. Trump has said publicly that a new attack is less likely because he prefers squeezing Tehran with sanctions and a blockade of its ports, but he has said he could return to military force if needed.

According to Israel's Channel 12, Netanyahu, Gofman, Shin Bet chief David Zini, National Security Council chair Shmuel Ben Ezra and Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter favor a strike. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is reported to be the holdout. Channel 12 says he sees Iran as a credible threat but not urgent enough to justify a strike now, while coalition talks are underway.

Channel 12 also reported that Gofman's trip was not mentioned to opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot at his Thursday security briefing with Netanyahu.

Separately, the IDF said the commander of the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw, visited Israel this week and met Israeli Navy chief Vice Adm. Eyal Harel.