US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States will hold “direct talks” with Iran over a potential nuclear agreement on Saturday, April 12. The development was also acknowledged by Iran’s Foreign Minister, who referred to the talks as “indirect” but called them both an “opportunity” and a “test.”
The anticipated meeting will take place in Oman, marking a significant diplomatic moment after years of strained relations and rising tensions. Trump announced the talks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.
“We have a very big meeting on Saturday [with Iran], and we’re dealing with them directly… And maybe a deal is going to be made, that would be great,” Trump stated from the Oval Office. However, he issued a stern warning, saying it would be a “very bad day for Iran” if the talks fail to produce an agreement.
Trump reiterated his hardline stance, emphasizing that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” and added that Tehran would be in “great danger” if the negotiations collapse.
Iran Confirms Indirect Talks in Oman
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed the meeting via social media platform X, stating that the discussions would occur in Oman on April 12. “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court,” he posted, signaling guarded optimism about a diplomatic breakthrough.
Araqchi’s comments follow Trump’s earlier outreach in March, when he reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei through an intermediary from the UAE. Although Iran initially rejected the offer of direct talks, its leadership expressed openness to negotiations through a third party.
A Decade-Long Standoff
The US has long prioritized curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In 2015, President Barack Obama secured a landmark agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with Iran and world powers including China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK. Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities and submit to international inspections in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions.
However, Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in 2018, citing flaws in the deal. Since then, Iran has breached several terms of the agreement, increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium and reducing cooperation with international monitors.
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Israel Aligns with US on Iran Threat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Trump’s concerns and reinforced Israel’s stance on Iran’s nuclear threat. “We and the United States are both united in the goal that Iran does not ever get nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said.
He added, “If it can be done diplomatically in a full way, the way it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing.”
Israel has long viewed Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a direct threat to its national security and has reportedly considered military action in recent months. Last year, Israel launched a strike on an Iranian nuclear site in retaliation for a missile attack.
High Stakes Ahead of April 12
As the world watches closely, the outcome of Saturday’s US-Iran meeting could have far-reaching consequences for global diplomacy, regional stability, and nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
The talks mark a critical juncture in efforts to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed state. With both sides expressing conditional optimism and issuing veiled threats, April 12 may prove pivotal for future US-Iran relations.
