The US president stated that Washington is in “direct” discussions with Tehran to avert potential conflict.
President Donald Trump announced upcoming “very high-level talks” between the United States and Iran regarding its nuclear program, warning of a “very bad day” for the Islamic Republic should negotiations fail.
Trump mentioned last month sending a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing renewed nuclear deal negotiations after the US’s 2018 withdrawal. He threatened Iran with unprecedented strikes if they rejected the offer.
During a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Trump stressed his preference for a diplomatic solution.
“We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started. It’ll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting, and we’ll see what can happen,” he told reporters. “And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious. And the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with – or, frankly, that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it.”
Tehran confirmed indirect talks in Oman on Saturday, reaffirming its commitment to diplomacy. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi refuted claims of direct communication between the two nations.
“Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect high-level talks. It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court,” Araqchi posted on X.
When asked for clarification, Trump reiterated, “We have a very big meeting on Saturday, and we’re dealing with them directly.”
I think if the talks aren’t successful with Iran, I think Iran is going to be in great danger – and I hate to say it, great danger – because they can’t have a nuclear weapon… If the talks aren’t successful, I actually think it’ll be a very bad day for Iran.
This heightened rhetoric follows years of tension surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. During his first term, Trump withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an international agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Following the US withdrawal and the re-imposition of sanctions, Iran reportedly decreased its compliance with the agreement, while maintaining that its nuclear program remains peaceful and legal under “international frameworks.”
In a letter to the UN Security Council last week, Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani accused the US of an “egregious violation of international law” and described Trump’s threats of military action as “reckless and belligerent.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Monday that Tehran “believe[s] in negotiations, but not abjectly.”
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