President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States plans on having talks with Iran.
“We have a very big meeting on Saturday and we’re dealing with them directly,” Trump said, adding that the talks would be “almost the highest level.”
Iran’s foreign minister confirmed the discussions would take place, but referred to them as “indirect high-level” talks, with the country of Oman hosting.
“It is as much an opportunity as it is a test,” Abbas Araghchi said on X. “The ball is in America’s court.”
Trump says ‘Iran is in great danger’ if talks are not fruitful
Trump was quick to dampen expectations ahead of the talks, saying that if they are unsuccessful, “Iran is going to be in great danger.”
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and if the talks aren’t successful I actually think it will be a very bad day for Iran.”
The comments from the US president came as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who considers Iran a threat to the Middle East’s stability.
Netanyahu also emphasized that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.
What’s the recent history between the US and Iran?
Washington and Tehran held indirect talks during Joe Biden’s one term in office, but little, if any, progress was made during the discussions.
The last known direct negotiations between the two countries occurred when Barack Obama was US president. Obama spearheaded the 2015 international nuclear deal which restricted Iran’s nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions. Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the arrangement during his first term in 2018.
Since then, Tehran has also stopped adhering to the terms of the agreement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently rejected the notion of direct talks with the United States regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, saying he preferred indirect communication.
Iran is not opposed to negotiations, he said, but the US must correct its past “misconduct” and create a new basis for trust.
