Trump announces direct talks with Iran amid nuclear tensions

IANS April 8, 2025 224 views

President Trump has announced potential direct nuclear negotiations with Iran, signaling a diplomatic approach while simultaneously maintaining a hard-line stance. The talks, scheduled to begin at a high diplomatic level, come after Trump rescinded the 2015 nuclear agreement originally brokered by President Obama. Trump emphasized that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, implying potential military consequences if negotiations fail. The announcement was made during a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the strategic importance of the potential talks.

"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That's all there is." - Donald Trump
Washington, April 8: The US and Iran are holding direct talks with their first meeting scheduled for Saturday at “almost at the top” level, President Donald Trump said Monday, adding a failure to reach an agreement will leave Teheran in “great danger” because it cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.

Key Points

1

Trump invites Iran to direct negotiations at top diplomatic level

2

Warns of potential military action if talks fail

3

References 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement

4

Involves Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in discussions

The American president gave no indications of the location of the talks or the officials who will be involved. Although he did say several times at a news conference he addressed alongside the visiting Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that the talks will be held at the "very top" level and "almost at the highest level".

Trump's announcement came weeks after he first started the process with a public invitation to talks that was spurned by the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Trump has pursued a policy of maximum pressure on Iran that he kicked off in his first term after rescinding the 2015 JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- also calls the Iran agreement) brokered by President Barack Obama between the P5 UN Security Council members US, UK, France, China and Russia and German as the +1 on the side and Iran on the other that lifted crippling UN sanctions in return for Iran agreeing to stop its nuclear weapons programme.

"We are having direct talks with Iran," Trump said, adding they will start on Saturday. "We have a very big meeting, and we'll see what can happen. And I think everybody 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."

The "obvious" was a veiled reference to his readiness to use the military option in the event of the failure of talks.

"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 is in 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. You can't have it ready right now."

The American president went on curiously to put on no notice nuclear powers that he believes "should not have" a nuclear bomb.

He did not identify these countries and did not spell out his plans for them. Nine countries are currently believed to be in possession of these bombs: the US, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea.

Reader Comments

S
Sarah K.
Interesting development after years of tension. Hope this leads to peaceful resolution 🤞 Diplomacy is always better than military action.
M
Mike T.
Not sure how much to trust these talks when Trump keeps threatening "great danger" in the same breath. Feels more like coercion than diplomacy.
A
Aisha R.
The JCPOA was working until the US pulled out. Now we're back to square one. Hope this new approach actually leads somewhere constructive.
J
James L.
"Almost at the highest level" but won't say who's involved? The lack of transparency here is concerning. Hope the media presses for details.
T
Tommy G.
Finally some movement! Maximum pressure worked - Iran wouldn't be coming to the table otherwise. Strong leadership makes a difference.
P
Priya M.
The veiled military threats undermine the diplomatic process. You can't build trust while waving a big stick. This approach needs refinement.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published

Tags:
Trump Iran Nuclear Talks Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Iran Nuclear Deal US Foreign Policy
You May Like!