IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump has called for direct negotiations with Iran over its controversial nuclear program. This move comes on the heels of heightened rhetoric, military posturing, and a two-month deadline issued by Trump for Tehran to return to the negotiating table or face potential military action.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “I think it’s better if we have direct talks. I think it goes faster, and you understand the other side a lot better than if you go through intermediaries.” His remarks suggest a clear preference for bypassing third-party mediation in favor of direct dialogue.

The current standoff traces its roots back to Trump’s first term, when he unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, a multilateral agreement signed under President Barack Obama that offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear activities. The withdrawal was followed by the reimposition of sweeping U.S. sanctions that have devastated Iran’s economy and pushed bilateral relations to the brink.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes, despite persistent allegations by Western nations that it harbors ambitions to develop nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic has resisted direct talks under the current administration, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declaring last week, “Tehran would not engage in direct talks with Washington until there is a change in the other side’s approach towards the Islamic Republic.”

Trump, however, remains insistent. “They wanted to use intermediaries, I don’t think that’s necessarily true anymore,” he said. “I think they’re concerned, I think they feel vulnerable. I don’t want them to feel that way. I think they want to meet.”

Trump’s overture to Iran comes at a time of shifting dynamics in the Middle East. Iran’s regional power projection has taken significant hits in recent months, notably after Israel’s military campaigns dismantled the operational capabilities of Iran’s key regional allies, Hamas and Hezbollah. These losses have not only weakened Iran’s influence but have also exposed vulnerabilities in its regional strategy, making it potentially more receptive to diplomatic overtures.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to Trump’s earlier letter, in which the U.S. president warned of military consequences if nuclear talks failed, with defiance, asserting that American threats “will get them nowhere.” He warned of reciprocal actions “if they do anything malign” against Iran.

Despite these warnings, reports indicate that a written response from Khamenei was sent, hinting at a reluctant openness to explore dialogue, though not under Washington’s current terms.

While the U.S. pushes for talks, it continues to bolster its military presence in the region. American F-35 jets, B-2 bombers, and aircraft carriers have been deployed to the Middle East, signaling both readiness and deterrence. Although officially justified as support for ongoing operations and deterrence against Iranian aggression, the build-up unmistakably adds pressure on Tehran.

Domestically, Iran is also under strain. Economic sanctions have triggered inflation, unemployment, and widespread public dissatisfaction. Protests and unrest have increased in frequency and intensity, further challenging the government’s grip and complicating its foreign policy calculus.

Trump’s recent comment that “there will be bombing” if Iran pursues nuclear weapons underscores the severity of the current impasse. The deadline he has imposed adds a ticking clock to an already volatile situation.

With the stakes high and time running out, the world watches closely. Trump’s gamble on direct diplomacy may offer a rare chance to defuse a long-simmering crisis, or it may push the region further toward confrontation. What remains clear is that the coming weeks will be pivotal in shaping the trajectory of U.S.-Iran relations and the broader Middle East.