It’s double trouble at Benetti. 

The Italian shipyard has launched two steel-hulled hybrids back to back, further strengthening its reputation for sturdy, stylish, and sustainable superyachts. The two custom cruisers are the first in the 220-foot B.Now line to be equipped with hybrid propulsion systems that curb emissions. 

“Owners are no longer looking just for a yacht, but for a more conscious and authentic way to experience the sea,” Daniela Petrozzi, sales director at Benetti, said in a statement. “These launches demonstrate how market demand is shifting towards yachts that deliver superior technological autonomy and reduced environmental impact, without ever compromising on comfort.” 

After launching the first unit, Symmetry, in January, Benetti has now launched the second, Dagger, resulting in a mere three-week gap between the two debuts. Both 1,350 GT yachts showcase sleek exteriors by RWD, with the British firm responsible for their defining feature: the oasis deck. The aft area is outfitted with an infinity pool and fold-out side wings that open to create a sweeping 270-degree view.

The exteriors may be similar, but the interiors couldn’t be more different. Spearheaded by Reymond Langton Design, the interior of Symmetry is distinguished by a welcoming layout, a palette of pale hues, lacquered metals, and textile artworks. The high level of customization is evident in pieces like the bespoke chandelier with crystal glass that creates an “ice effect.” Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design took a different approach with the interiors of Dagger, combining a linear layout with natural tones and nine different types of wood. At the request of the art-loving owner, numerous areas have been designed as private galleries with special shelves for sculptures and recesses in the walls for paintings. (Benetti didn’t share photos of the interiors or exterior shots of Symmetry.) Both yachts can accommodate 12 guests and 17 crew.

As for grunt, Symmetry and Dagger are powered by Caterpillar C32 Acert diesel engines that give them a top speed of 15.5 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 12 knots. In addition to the engines, the propulsion system also includes generators and a battery pack that enable the owner to choose the most efficient cruising mode for the situation. The setup also helps reduce vibrations and noise on the seas and at anchor.

“The real value, for people who choose a large yacht today, lies precisely in the balance between steel construction excellence and propulsion systems capable of offering a quieter and more sustainable quality of life on board,” adds Petrozzi. 

Double trouble, indeed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday in a visit expected to center on Iran, as Washington weighs diplomacy against the threat of military action and Israel pushes to shape the scope of negotiations.

Trump has signaled the Iranian file will dominate the agenda. In a phone interview with Axios, the president said Tehran “very much wants to reach a deal,” but warned, “Either we make a deal, or we’ll have to do something very tough — like last time.”

Netanyahu, speaking before departing Israel for Washington, said he intends to present Israel’s position. “I will present to the president our concept regarding the principles of the negotiations — the essential principles that are important not only to Israel but to anyone who wants peace and security in the Middle East,” he told reporters.

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The meeting comes days after U.S. and Iranian officials resumed talks in Oman for the first time since last summer’s 12-day war, while the United States continues to maintain a significant military presence in the Gulf — a posture widely viewed as both deterrence and for holding leverage in negotiations with Tehran.

From the U.S. perspective, Iran is seen as a global security challenge rather than a regional one, according to Jacob Olidort, chief research officer and director of American security at the America First Policy Institute. “It’s an important historic time of potentially seismic proportions,” he told Fox News Digital.

“Iran is not so much a Middle East issue. It’s a global issue affecting U.S. interests around the world,” he added, calling the regime “probably the world’s oldest global terror network… [with] thousands of Americans killed through proxies.”

Olidort said the administration’s strategy appears to combine diplomacy with visible military pressure. “The president has been clear… should talks not be successful, the military option cannot be off the table,” he said. “Military assets in the region serve as part of the negotiation strategy with Iran.”

ISRAELI UN AMBASSADOR SENDS STARK WARNING TO IRAN AMID GROWING UNREST

For Israel, the main concern is not only Iran’s nuclear program but also its ballistic missile arsenal and regional network of armed groups.

Trump indicated to Axios that the United States shares at least part of that view, saying any agreement would need to address not only nuclear issues but also Iran’s ballistic missiles. 

Israeli intelligence expert Sima Shein has warned that negotiations narrowly focused on nuclear restrictions could leave Israel exposed. “The visit signals a lack of confidence that American envoys, Witkoff and Kushner, alone can represent Israel’s interests in the best way. They were in Israel just a week ago — but Netanyahu wants to speak directly with Trump, so there is no ambiguity about Israel’s position,” she added.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN CALLED ‘NUMEROUS’ TIMES TO MAKE DEAL AS CARRIER ENTERS MIDDLE EAST WATERS

Shein says Iran may be stalling diplomatically to see whether Washington limits talks to nuclear issues while avoiding missile constraints. Her analysis further suggests that a sanctions-relief agreement that leaves Iran’s broader capabilities intact could stabilize the regime at a moment of internal pressure while preserving its military leverage. 

“An agreement now would effectively save the regime at a time when it has no real solutions to its internal problems. Lifting sanctions through a deal would give it breathing room and help stabilize it,” she said.

“If there is an agreement, the United States must demand the release of all detainees and insist on humanitarian measures, including medical support for those who have been severely injured. Washington would need to be directly involved in enforcing those provisions.”

IRAN DRAWS MISSILE RED LINE AS ANALYSTS WARN TEHRAN IS STALLING US TALKS

Netanyahu said before leaving Israel that he and Trump would discuss “a series of topics,” including Gaza, where a U.S.-backed postwar framework and ceasefire implementation remain stalled. 

According to Israeli reporting, Netanyahu plans to tell Trump that phase two of the Gaza peace plan “is not moving,” reflecting continued disputes over disarmament, governance and security arrangements.

The timing of Netanyahu’s visit may also allow him to avoid returning to Washington the following week for the inaugural session of the Board of Peace, Shein said, noting the initiative is controversial in Israel’s parliament. 

“Israel is deeply concerned about the presence of Turkey and Qatar on the board of peace and their malign influence on other members as well as on the Palestinian authority’s technocratic government,” Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, told Fox News Digital.

“Hamas’s control of Gaza has not weakened, while international commitments to disarm Hamas have appeared to weaken,” he added, “The longer the U.S. waits before taking action against the Iranian regime, the more compromised Israel is in its ability and determination to forcibly disarm Hamas, both of which require the sanction and the blessing of the new international structures on Gaza.”

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“The prime minister’s deep concern is the stalled state of affairs both against the Iranian regime and apparently in Gaza. Timing is critical on both fronts. And for Israel, the window seems to be closing,” Diker said.  

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for national unity in the face of external threats while insisting that his government is willing to negotiate over its nuclear programme, at a huge public ceremony in Tehran commemorating the 47th anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Republic.

Large crowds gathered in the capital and other cities around the country in a show of support for the government as Iran observed the 1979 anniversary amid one of the most difficult moments in the country’s recent history.

Following the latest round of talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, United States President Donald Trump has continued to threaten Tehran with potential military attacks if it does not accede to Washington’s demands on issues ranging from nuclear enrichment to ballistic missiles, with the US leader reportedly considering sending another aircraft carrier group to the region.

Alongside the threats from the US, Iran is grappling with bitter internal divisions amid the fallout from its deadly crackdown on protests earlier this year, in which thousands of protesters were killed, and a cratering economy.

Addressing the crowds in Tehran’s Azadi Square, Pezeshkian called for solidarity amongst Iranians in the face of “conspiracies from imperial powers”.

“We are standing together … in solidarity in the face of all conspiracies targeting our nation,” he said, adding that the strength and unity of the Iranian people “gives rise to worry within our enemy”.

“We should continue to stand side by side.”

Regarding the nuclear talks, he said Iran was “not seeking nuclear weapons” and was “ready for any kind of verification”.

However, he said, the “high wall of mistrust” created by the US and Europe “does not allow these talks to reach a conclusion”.

“At the same time, we are engaging with full determination in dialogue aimed at peace and stability in the region alongside our neighbouring countries,” he added.

Pezeshkian apologises

Addressing the recent protests, which began with demonstrations over the high cost of living and the plummeting currency before broadening into other grievances against the government, Pezeshkian apologised for the government’s shortcomings, and said it was making “every possible effort” to fix the problems.

“We are ready to listen to the voice of the people. We are servants of the people. We are not seeking to confront the people,” he said.

He blamed “malicious propaganda” circulated by Iran’s enemies for inflaming the unrest, which he referred to as riots.

“The efforts that our enemies are making to create deep wounds in society and widen divisions, we must heal these wounds,” he said.

Iran ‘open to deal’

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Tehran, Ali Akbar Dareini, a researcher at the Centre for Strategic Studies, said Pezeshkian’s speech signalled Iran was “open to a fair and balanced deal with the United States”.

“While he did not go into any details, saying Iran is open to that means that Iran, at the same time, will resist unrealistic demands from the United States that seek to disarm Iran or deny Iran of its sovereign rights,” he said.

He said Pezeshkian’s speech acknowledged that the public’s grievances with the government were legitimate, stressing his government would do its best to resolve the problems.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar said the anniversary commemorations were taking place at a critical moment for Iran, as the country faced external threats and significant internal division.

“There’s a huge demand for change,” he said, adding that meanwhile, “the establishment wants to show it has the people’s support.”

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had issued a call on Tuesday for Iranians to turn out and join the celebrations, which were attended by senior political, military and religious figures.

US, Israeli flags burned

The commemorations featured prominent symbols of anti-US and anti-Israeli sentiment, with people burning and trampling the flags of those countries.

Iranian media showed images of symbolic coffins draped in US flags and bearing the names and portraits of US military commanders, while Iranian missiles and the wreckage of Israeli drones shot down during last year’s 12-day war were displayed.

In the streets, people waved images of Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, alongside Iranian and Palestinian flags. Some chanted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Dareini, from Tehran’s Centre for Strategic Studies, said the commemorations were a significant manifestation of solidarity at a critical juncture for Iran.

“Israelis and Americans have been seeking to break national solidarity in Iran, but today’s rallies around the country are a manifestation of solidarity,” he said.

Diplomatic push continues

The commemorations in Iran have come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding the nuclear negotiations with the US, as Washington has continued to threaten military action.

On Wednesday, Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani left Oman, where he had met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said and the country’s foreign minister to discuss the results of talks between US and Iranian officials in the sultanate last week, for Qatar.

Qatar, which hosts a major US military installation that Iran attacked in June after Washington’s attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, has been a key negotiator in the past with Iran.

Larijani is expected to meet with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad ⁠Al Thani ⁠during the visit, which comes shortly after the emir discussed efforts for regional de-escalation and stability in a phone call with Trump, the ⁠Emiri Diwan said on Wednesday.

The emir and Trump discussed “supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing ‌crises through dialogue and peaceful means”, the Diwan said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet Trump in Washington on Wednesday, where the Israeli leader is expected to present his government’s concerns over any potential deal with Iran.

Netanyahu has said he will present Trump with “principles” for negotiating with Iran during the visit, where he is also scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.