US President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he desires “direct talks” with Tehran regarding a nuclear deal, following his threat to bomb Iran should it develop nuclear weapons.
Trump has issued a two-month deadline to Iranian leaders to reach an agreement on the nation’s nuclear program, a matter that has strained relations with Western countries for decades.
Western nations, including the United States, have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran denies, insisting its enrichment activities are solely for peaceful purposes.
“I think it’s better if we have direct talks,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I think it goes faster, and you understand the other side a lot better than if you go through intermediaries.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated last week that Tehran would not engage in direct talks with Washington “until there is a change in the other side’s approach towards the Islamic republic.”
During his first term, Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama and reinstated stringent sanctions on Iran.
The deal, agreed upon between Tehran and world powers, required Iran to limit its nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief.
“They wanted to use intermediaries. I don’t think that’s necessarily true anymore,” Trump said.
“I think they’re concerned, I think they feel vulnerable. I don’t want them to feel that way,” he added. “I think they want to meet.”
Trump disclosed last month that he had written to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging nuclear negotiations and warning of potential military action should Tehran refuse.
Trump has given Iran a two-month deadline to reach a new nuclear agreement.
In response, Tehran has only agreed to indirect negotiations. It has ruled out any direct talks while under a US policy of “maximum pressure,” according to The Conversation.
Khamenei responded by stating that US threats “will get them nowhere” and warned of reciprocal measures “if they do anything malign” against Iran.
Last week, Trump stated that “there will be bombing” of Iran if it does not abandon its efforts to develop nuclear weapons. In recent days, American B-2 bombers and warships have been deployed to the region as a show of force.
