Trump says U.S. holding nuclear talks with Iran in surprise announcement
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Trump and Netanyahu in the Oval Office. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty
President Trump said Monday that the U.S. had been holding "direct talks" with Iran and that a "very big meeting" involving "very high-level" officials will be taking place this Saturday.
Why it matters: The surprise announcement from Trump follows his repeated warnings that Iran must sign a new nuclear deal or face military strikes.
The latest: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks would take place in Oman and confirmed they would be "high-level."
- While Trump insisted the talks would be "direct," Araghchi claimed they would be" indirect." In diplomatic terms, that means mediators pass messages between the sides.
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ruled out direct talks with the U.S. so long as Trump kept his "maximum pressure" policy in place.
- "It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America's court," Araghchi said.
What they're saying: "I think everyone 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," Trump said, speaking from the Oval Office alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- "So we're going to see if we can avoid it. But it's getting to be very dangerous territory, and hopefully those talks will be successful. And I think it would be in Iran's best interest if they are successful."
- Later in the back-and-forth with reporters Trump said: "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. You know, it's not a complicated formula. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That's all there is."
- Trump did not say who had handled the outreach to Iran up to now or which officials would take part in Saturday's talks. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff is likely to play a role.
Between the lines: Netanyahu believes the chances of a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal are extremely low, but intended to present what "a good deal should look like" during Monday's meeting with Trump, a senior Israeli official said.
- "Netanyahu wants the Libya model. Full dismantling to the Iranian nuclear program," the official said. Iran denies it wants a bomb, but rejects the idea of shutting down its nuclear program.
- The official added Netanyahu wants to reach an understanding with Trump about striking Iran's nuclear facilities when diplomacy fails.
- Trump rebuffed Israel over the main purpose of Netanyahu's visit: Trying to reduce or eliminate the 17% tariffs he imposed.
This story was updated with Araghchi's comments.
