US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would play an “indirect” role in high-stakes discussions between the US and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva. Trump expressed optimism that Iran was motivated to reach an agreement.
“I’ll be involved in those talks, indirectly. And they’ll be very important,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. The announcement comes as tensions in the Middle East escalate, with the US deploying a second aircraft carrier to the region and preparing for the possibility of a prolonged military operation if diplomacy fails, according to US officials.
Asked about the prospects for a deal, Trump highlighted Iran’s historically tough stance in negotiations but noted that the country had learned the consequences of such an approach last summer when the US targeted Iranian nuclear sites with airstrikes.
“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” he added, suggesting that Tehran is more inclined toward negotiation this time.
US Pressure on Iran Over Nuclear Enrichment
Prior to last year’s US strikes in June, nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran had stalled, mainly because the US insisted that Iran halt uranium enrichment on its soil—a move Washington views as a pathway to developing nuclear weapons.
Trump reflected on the strikes, stating, “We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s.” He expressed hope that Iran would approach the current negotiations more reasonably.
The remarks contrast with Trump’s statements from the previous Friday, when he had endorsed the idea of potential regime change in Iran and criticized decades of failed diplomatic efforts.
Iran Pushes for Fair Deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with the head of the UN nuclear watchdog in Geneva on Monday, posting on X that he aims to secure “a fair and equitable deal.” He emphasized that Iran would not submit to threats.
Outstanding Issues: Uranium Stockpile and Missiles
The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly asked Iran to clarify the status of its 440 kg of highly enriched uranium following last year’s Israeli-US strikes, and to allow full inspections of three key sites: Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Iran has conducted a military exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route, warning that any attack could prompt closure of the strait, which would disrupt a fifth of global oil exports and sharply raise crude prices.
Despite Trump’s cautious optimism, the talks face significant hurdles. Washington is pushing to broaden negotiations to include non-nuclear issues, such as Iran’s missile program. Iran, however, maintains that it will only discuss limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief and will not abandon uranium enrichment, while its missile program remains off-limits.
During a visit to Hungary on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that reaching a deal would be challenging. “There’s an opportunity for diplomacy, but I don’t want to overstate it. It’s going to be hard,” he said, adding that Iran’s decisions are driven by radical clerics with theological motivations rather than purely geopolitical considerations.