Trump plans direct nuclear talks with Iran amid rising tensions

President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will engage in direct negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. He warned that if the talks fail to dissuade Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons, the consequences for Tehran could be severe.

Trump, speaking after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed that discussions would begin on Saturday and stressed that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. However, Iran responded by stating that the discussions would be indirect and mediated by a third party.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on social media that high-level talks with the U.S. would take place in Oman, but through intermediaries. He emphasized that this moment represents both a challenge and an opportunity, placing responsibility on Washington.

This diplomatic effort follows Trump’s recent letter to Iran’s supreme leader proposing direct engagement, though Iranian leadership has so far rejected direct dialogue, favoring indirect communication instead.

Trump reaffirmed his hardline stance, repeating past warnings that failure to reach an agreement would result in unprecedented military action. During his presidency, Trump had already withdrawn the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal brokered under President Barack Obama.

Netanyahu voiced support for diplomatic efforts, stating that any agreement should ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. He referenced the 2003 Libyan disarmament deal as a potential model but noted Iran continues to maintain a nuclear program recognized by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Trump revealed that the talks would be at “almost the highest level,” without disclosing specific details about the location or negotiators involved. Oman, previously a key facilitator in U.S.-Iran negotiations, has not confirmed hosting the new discussions.

The announcement came during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he met with Trump to discuss nuclear issues, regional security, and economic matters, including new tariffs imposed by the U.S.

The leaders also addressed broader geopolitical concerns such as the war between Israel and Hamas, regional diplomacy, and tensions with Iran. Trump had earlier spoken with leaders from France, Egypt, and Jordan in efforts to stabilize the region.

On trade, Netanyahu promised swift action to eliminate the U.S.-Israel trade deficit, which stood at $7.4 billion last year. Trump, however, linked trade concessions to broader U.S. support for Israel, particularly military aid totaling nearly $4 billion annually.

As Trump prepares for a potential visit to Saudi Arabia, experts suggest he may push for normalized relations between Israel and Gulf nations, using diplomacy as a strategic move to isolate Iran further.

Despite efforts to mitigate economic fallout, Israel was not spared from U.S. tariffs imposed on several countries. The tariffs, affecting sectors like biotechnology and electronics, could cost the Israeli economy $3 billion annually and lead to significant job losses, according to estimates.