According to Donald Trump, the US and Iran are engaging in “direct talks” regarding a potential nuclear agreement this Saturday.
The discussions between Washington and Tehran will take place at a “very high level,” the US president mentioned on Monday, cautioning that it would be a “very bad day for Iran” if a deal is not reached.
Last month, amidst rising tensions, Trump suggested military action against Iran after its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, publicly dismissed the proposal for direct discussions.
Trump shared news of the upcoming talks following a meeting at the White House with Israel’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has previously expressed support for military options to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
During a speech in the Oval Office, Trump remarked: “We have a significant meeting scheduled for Saturday [with Iran], and we’re engaging with them directly… And perhaps a deal will materialize, which would be fantastic.”
He later warned that Iran would face “great danger” if the negotiations fail, asserting: “Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon, and if the talks do not succeed, it could indeed turn out to be a very bad day for Iran.”
The president did not elaborate on the specifics of the talks, such as their current status or the officials involved.
Iran has yet to publicly respond since Trump mentioned that direct communication occurred between the two nations, which have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1980.
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated: “We have made our position clear: we favor diplomacy and negotiations [with Washington], but only [through] indirect [channels].
“Naturally, we must recognize that no rounds of negotiations have occurred thus far.”
In March, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s leadership via an intermediary from the United Arab Emirates, expressing his readiness to negotiate.
Iran rejected that proposal, though its leadership indicated a willingness to explore a potential deal with the US through a third party.
Limiting Iran’s capacity to develop nuclear weapons has been a longstanding foreign policy objective for the US and its allies over many years.
In 2015, then-President Barack Obama reached an agreement with Iran, which required it to limit its nuclear activities and permit international inspections to ensure that its facilities were used solely for civilian purposes, not for weapons manufacturing.
In exchange, Iran was promised relief from sanctions that have significantly damaged its economy.
This agreement was co-signed by China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK.
However, in 2016, Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord, which he had criticized vigorously during his initial presidential campaign.
Since then, Iran has progressively violated its agreement terms, with the International Atomic Energy Agency warning that Tehran has accumulated substantial stockpiles of enriched uranium capable of being used in nuclear bombs.
In recent months, Trump has frequently alluded to the possibility of negotiating a new deal with Iran, coupled with threats of military action if an agreement cannot be established.
Israel considers it central to its long-term security to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, reportedly contemplating strikes on its production facilities in the past few months.
Last year, Israel confirmed it had targeted an Iranian nuclear site in retaliation for an earlier missile strike from Iran.
At the White House, Netanyahu stated: “We and the United States are both aligned in the goal of ensuring Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.
“If it can be achieved diplomatically in a comprehensive manner, similar to what occurred in Libya, that would be favorable.”
