US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would be involved “indirectly” in high-stakes talks. These talks involve Iran and the US and focus on Tehran’s nuclear program. These talks are set for Tuesday in Geneva. He added that he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal.
“I’ll be involved in those talks, indirectly. And they’ll be very important,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Tensions are soaring ahead of the talks, with the US deploying a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. US officials have told Reuters that the US military is preparing for the possibility of a sustained military campaign. This will happen if the talks do not succeed.
Asked about the prospects for a deal, Trump said Iran has long sought a tough posture in negotiations. Iran learned the consequences of that approach last summer. The US bombed Iranian nuclear sites at that time.
Trump suggested Tehran was motivated this time to negotiate.
“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” Trump said.
Washington pushes Tehran to forego enrichment
Before the US strikes in June, US-Iran nuclear talks had stalled. Washington demanded that Tehran forgo enrichment on its soil. The US considers this a pathway to an Iranian nuclear weapon.
“We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. We needed to send the B-2s. Trump referred to the bat-winged US stealth bombers. They carried out the bombings.”
“I hope they’re going to be more reasonable.”
The remarks contrast with those by the US president on Friday. He embraced potential regime change in Iran. He also lamented decades of failed talks.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with the UN nuclear watchdog chief on Monday. He said in a post on X that he was in Geneva to “achieve a fair and equitable deal.” “What is not on the table: submission before threats,” Araqchi said.
Questions about uranium stockpile
The International Atomic Energy Agency has been calling on Iran for months. They want an explanation for the fate of its stockpile of 440 kg of highly enriched uranium. This request follows the Israeli-US strikes. They are urging Iran to allow inspections to fully resume. This is especially important in three key sites that were bombed in June last year: Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against any attack. This action would choke a fifth of global oil flows. It would also send crude prices sharply higher.
Iran held a military drill on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz. This is a vital international waterway and oil export route from Gulf Arab states. These states have been appealing for diplomacy to end the dispute.
Despite Trump’s comments about Iran seeking a deal, the talks face major potential stumbling blocks. Washington has sought to expand the scope of talks to non-nuclear issues such as Iran’s missile stockpile.
Tehran is only willing to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. It won’t accept zero uranium enrichment. It says its missile capabilities are off the table.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke during a visit to Hungary on Monday. He said reaching a deal with Tehran would be hard.
“I think that there’s an opportunity here to diplomatically reach an agreement. I don’t want to overstate it either,” Rubio said.
“It’s going to be hard. It’s been very difficult for anyone to do real deals with Iran. We’re dealing with radical clerics. They are making theological decisions, not geopolitical ones.”
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