President Donald Trump has now reportedly expressed optimism regarding the possibility of direct talks between the United States and Iran, despite ongoing tensions and threats from both sides.
In comments made to reporters, Trump suggested that Tehran may be open to face-to-face diplomacy, highlighting that while Iran initially preferred using intermediaries for negotiations, he believes their stance has shifted.
Last month, Trump conveyed a willingness to negotiate with Iranian leadership through a letter addressing concerns related to Iran’s nuclear program.
While Trump regularly threatens military action against Iran, the Iranian government has so far rejected direct discussions, favoring indirect diplomacy instead. Nonetheless, Trump’s remarks fueled speculation about a potential change in Iran’s position.
The Trump administration has continued to impose heavy sanctions on Iran to decrease its oil exports, particularly to China.
During his previous term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the multilateral agreement that had curtailed Iran’s nuclear development in exchange for sanction relief.
Iran has consistently maintained that it does not seek nuclear weapons, even as Israel—seen as a significant ally of the U.S.—is believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal.
Despite Trump’s calls for peace in global conflicts since taking office again in January, his approach towards Iran combines diplomatic gestures with aggressive warnings.
He emphasized that if negotiations fail, there could be severe military repercussions, stating, “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing.”
As tensions escalate, Iranian officials have issued their own warnings, indicating that they would retaliate against U.S. interests if attacked.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cautioned that threats against Iran would yield no results, emphasizing the potential consequences of hostile actions against the nation.
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