Axios revealed that US President Donald Trump secretly met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and discussed the nuclear talks with Iran and the war in Gaza, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.

The meeting, which was not announced by the United States or Israel, took place at the White House ahead of the fourth round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Muscat on Sunday and President Trump's trip to the Middle East, which begins on Monday.

Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates on this trip, but will not visit Israel.

This meeting is somewhat unusual, as American presidents do not usually meet with second- or third-rank foreign officials.

The meeting took place two days after Trump's surprise announcement of a truce with the Houthis, which exposed gaps in trust and coordination between the administrations.

This announcement came shortly after Israel carried out strikes on a major port and airport in Yemen in response to a Houthi attack on Tel Aviv International Airport. Israelis were concerned that the ceasefire announced by Trump did not apply to attacks on Israel.

The website reports that an Israeli official stated, "We were shocked that the Trump administration didn't tell us anything. We learned about it on television."

This incident has raised concerns about the potential limits of Israel's influence over the US approach to the nuclear talks with Iran. Netanyahu questions the viability of diplomacy and wants Trump to consider the military option.

Dermer met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday and expressed Israeli concerns, according to a source familiar with the matter.

On Thursday, Dermer held several meetings at the White House, including one with Trump. Also in attendance were Vice President Vance, Rubio, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, according to the website.

White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt confirmed Trump's meeting with Dermer, saying it was a "private meeting."

Witkoff and his team are expected to hold another round of nuclear talks with Iran on Sunday in Oman, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will head the Iranian delegation.

Trump reiterated on Thursday his desire to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran without resorting to the use of military force.

The Israeli occupation authorities have set the end of Trump's visit as the deadline for reaching a new agreement on prisoner releases and a ceasefire in Gaza, threatening a large-scale military operation to destroy and occupy the Strip and displace its entire population if no agreement is reached.

In recent days, Witkoff has been working with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to pressure Hamas to agree to the release of some hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, but the movement continues to insist that Israel agree to end the war in exchange for the release of all hostages.