President Donald Trump announced that the United States has begun direct negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program, despite Tehran’s previous dismissal of Washington’s calls for dialogue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House yesterday, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that Iran would face significant consequences if diplomatic efforts to address its nuclear ambitions were unsuccessful. He made it clear that Tehran could not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
Earlier this month, Trump warned that if Iran refused to reach a deal, the U.S. would take decisive action, including bombing and military strikes. He further cautioned that such strikes would be unprecedented in their scale and intensity.
Iran has said it would hold talks with the United States over its nuclear programme, confirming an earlier announcement by President Donald Trump.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on social media late on Monday that “indirect” talks would take place on Saturday. Iranian state media later reported that Araghchi would meet the US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, with Oman acting as a mediator.
Earlier, Trump had announced the start of “direct” talks, while maintaining threatening rhetoric suggesting the US could attack Iran. Tehran had earlier dismissed Washington’s calls for the talks.
“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,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable,” he added, without providing further details.
Trump also warned that Iran would be in “great danger” if diplomatic efforts to curb its nuclear ambitions failed, adding that Tehran “can’t have nuclear weapons”.
