On the evening of Monday, April 7, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his administration had begun direct talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program, with a major meeting set for Saturday.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office, Trump stressed the importance of a diplomatic resolution, saying, “We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started. It’ll go 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.”
Netanyahu, who flew in from Budapest at Trump’s invitation, offered cautious support for the initiative. He acknowledged that if diplomacy could fully resolve Iran’s nuclear ambitions, it would be “a good thing,” but he emphasized the critical need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons at all costs.
However, Iran quickly denied Trump’s claim of direct talks. A senior Iranian official clarified that any negotiations would be indirect, with Oman serving as an intermediary. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed via social media that “Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect high-level talks,” adding, “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court.”
Oman, which has maintained positive relations with both the U.S. and Iran, has previously acted as a communication channel between the two nations. Despite the differing accounts of how the negotiations will unfold, both sides appear to be moving toward discussions aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
President Trump issued a stern warning, stating that failure to reach an agreement could have severe consequences for Iran. He 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.”
These developments come amidst rising tensions in the Middle East, with the U.S. bolstering its military presence in the region. The outcome of the upcoming talks could have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical landscape and efforts to curb nuclear proliferation in the region.
