Trump announces 'direct' talks with Iran on nuclear issues

Donald Trump surprised many by announcing that Washington is holding 'direct' talks with Iran over its nuclear program while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who left without the trade concessions he hoped to obtain.

'We have direct discussions with Iran. They have started, they will continue on Saturday; we will have a very important meeting,' the American president told the press. He then assured that this meeting would take place on Saturday 'at a very high level' and even 'almost at the highest level.'

This is a spectacular announcement from the American president, known for his aversion to complex diplomatic negotiations involving more than two parties, especially as Iran rejected any direct dialogue with Washington on Sunday.

Tehran confirmed its position after this announcement.

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, is scheduled to have 'indirect talks' on Saturday in Oman with the U.S. envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, announced the Iranian agency Tasnim on Tuesday. 'It is both an opportunity and a test. The ball is in America's court,' Mr. Araghchi wrote earlier on social network X, announcing the holding of 'high-level indirect discussions.'

Close allies during the Pahlavi monarchy, the two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 1980 following the hostage-taking of American diplomats at their embassy in Tehran, in the wake of the Islamic revolution. However, they communicate indirectly through the Swiss embassy in Tehran. The Sultanate of Oman has often played a mediator role, with Qatar doing so to a lesser extent.

'Great danger'

'We are dealing directly with them. And maybe we will have an agreement,' said the American president on Monday, who had dramatically withdrawn the United States from an international agreement with Iran during his first term in 2018. The agreement, concluded in 2015, provided for the lifting of certain sanctions in exchange for limiting Iran's nuclear activities. Donald Trump said Monday that if a new deal were found, it would be 'different and perhaps much more robust.' However, he added that Iran would be 'in great danger' if the talks did not succeed.

In the meantime, Iran is to hold consultations on this same issue in Moscow on Tuesday with its close partners, Russia and China.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who maintains a hard line against Tehran, called for Iran never to produce a nuclear weapon. He advocated for diplomatic negotiations to lead to a 'complete' dismantling, citing the example of Libya.

Regarding tariffs, another issue of his visit, the Israeli Prime Minister promised to 'eliminate the U.S. trade deficit' with Israel. He is the first foreign leader received by the American president since last week's announcement of new tariffs, which caused turbulence in global financial markets.

'Another cease-fire'

The Israeli leader left without a promise of exemption or reduction of the 17% tariffs that will be imposed on imports from his country starting Wednesday. A journalist asked Donald Trump if he planned to reverse this tax, and he replied: 'Maybe not. Don't forget that we help Israel a lot.'

Israel had unsuccessfully attempted to avoid the new taxes by lifting all remaining tariffs on the 1% of American goods still affected on Tuesday.

Benjamin Netanyahu also stated that Israel was working on a new 'agreement' for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. 'We are doing everything we can to get the hostages out. We are considering another ceasefire, we'll see what happens,' added Donald Trump.

After two months of fragile truce, the Israeli army resumed its military offensive in the Gaza Strip on March 18, where the Palestinian movement had launched an unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023, in Israel. The recent truce allowed the return of 33 Israeli hostages, 8 of whom have died, in exchange for the release of some 1,800 Palestinians detained by Israel. Of the 251 hostages kidnapped during the Hamas attack, 58 remain held in the Palestinian territory, 34 of whom have died according to the Israeli army.