Trump Announces Direct Negotiations with Iran, Tehran Says They’re Only Through Oman

Standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration had begun direct negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program. Tehran quickly pushed back, denying any such engagement, saying that Oman is acting as a mediator between the two.

Trump also delivered a stern warning: “If the talks aren’t successful… it’ll be a very bad day for Iran.”

Following a meeting with Netanyahu in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that discussions were already underway and scheduled to continue Saturday.

“We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started,” Trump said. “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 made an unplanned trip from Budapest to Washington at Trump’s request, appeared cautiously optimistic. He stated that diplomacy aimed at completely dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities would be a “good thing,” but emphasized that the program must be halted by any means necessary.

Shortly after Trump’s announcement, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that any talks with the US would take place indirectly, with Oman acting as an intermediary. “The talks will not be direct … It will be with Oman’s mediation,” the unnamed official said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later confirmed that “indirect high-level” discussions would be held in Oman.
“It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court,” he added.

Oman has maintained ties with both Tehran and Washington.

Iran’s Nournews, which is tied to the terrorism-sponsoring Islamic country’s top security institutions, dismissed Trump’s comments about direct talks as part of a broader “psychological operation aimed at influencing domestic and international public opinion.”

However, a New York Times report citing three Iranian officials indicated that Tehran might be open to direct engagement if the initial discussions prove productive.