Trump says US has begun direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program
US President Donald Trump announced that his country and Iran are in direct talks regarding Tehran's nuclear program. For its part, Tehran later confirmed a high-level meeting with Washington in Oman on April 12, but clarified that it would be an indirect dialogue.
U.S. President Donald Trump surprised everyone on Monday, April 7, 2025, by stating that his administration is beginning direct talks with Iran regarding Tehran's nuclear program.
"We are having direct talks with Iran, which have already begun. They will continue on Saturday. We have a very important meeting, and we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." "And I think everyone agrees that it would be preferable to reach an agreement," Trump said, without elaborating.
Trump had previously stated that he would prefer a deal on Iran's nuclear program to a military confrontation, and on March 7, he said he had written to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggesting talks.
Tehran says they will be indirect talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday, April 7, that Tehran is waiting for a response from the United States before holding indirect talks on its nuclear program in Oman.
"The ball is in the US court to respond to the Islamic Republic's proposal, although we are in no rush," Araqchi said in an interview with Tasnim.
US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran via the United Arab Emirates urging negotiations over its nuclear program and has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran if a deal is not reached. Tehran responded on March 26 with the message that it is only willing to engage indirectly with Washington, given the US president's military threats and the imposition of new sanctions to cut off Iranian oil sales.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei stated that Trump's letter only addressed nuclear negotiations, not the missile program or support for regional groups like Hezbollah or Hamas, as some media outlets have speculated.
"Trump's letter did not contain any other topic other than this (the nuclear issue)," Baghaei said at a press conference.
Ismail Baghaei also highlighted Oman as the location chosen by Tehran to hold these indirect negotiations, an offer he considered "generous, responsible, and politically wise."
Trump's warnings of military action against Iran had fueled tensions in an already tense Middle East following open warfare in Gaza and Lebanon, military strikes in Yemen, a change of leadership in Syria, and exchanges of fire between Israelis and Iranians.
