Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the new director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, in Jerusalem on Wednesday, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office.

According to Agence France-Presse, the statement said that "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday evening with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, in the presence of Mossad Director David Barnea," days before scheduled talks between Washington and Tehran, and amid ongoing attempts to revive the ceasefire in Gaza.

Netanyahu returned from Washington on Wednesday morning following a meeting at the White House, where President Donald Trump surprisingly announced that the United States would begin direct, high-level talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program next Saturday.

But the Israeli Prime Minister said following the announcement that a "military option" would become "unavoidable" if talks between Washington and Tehran continued for a long period.

"We agree with Trump that Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon," he added in a video statement shortly before his return to Israel.

He added, "This could be achieved through an agreement that guarantees the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities under American supervision... and that would be good." However, "the second option, if that's not the case, is for them to stall the discussions, and then there's no escape from the military option."

During their meeting, the two leaders also said that new negotiations are underway to secure the release of more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The United States, Qatar, and Egypt brokered a fragile ceasefire agreement, the first phase of which went into effect on January 19.

The ceasefire held until March 18, when Israel resumed intensive military operations in Gaza.

The truce allowed for the return of 33 Israeli hostages, 8 of whom were killed, in exchange for the release of approximately 1,800 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.