President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will hold direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program, insisting Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Speaking after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump said discussions would begin Saturday and emphasized that “doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious.”
“We’re dealing with them directly, and maybe a deal is going to be made,” Trump told reporters, adding that the talks would occur “at almost the highest level.”
Trump’s announcement came as Netanyahu made a hastily arranged visit to Washington — his second in just over two months — to address rising tensions over tariffs, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord brokered by the Obama administration. That agreement, also backed by Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia, lifted major sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear activities. Trump argued at the time that the deal endangered global security and weakened U.S. credibility.
Looking ahead, Trump suggested any new agreement would be “different and maybe a lot stronger” than the one negotiated under President Obama.
Netanyahu’s visit also focused on the escalating economic dispute between the U.S. and Israel. Following Trump’s announcement of widespread tariffs — dubbed “Liberation Day” tariffs — Israel preemptively lifted tariffs on U.S. goods, but was nonetheless hit with a 17% tariff rate. The move could cost Israel approximately $3 billion in annual exports and 26,000 jobs, according to the Manufacturers Association of Israel.
Netanyahu assured Trump that his government would work quickly to eliminate the trade deficit with the U.S., a key demand from Washington.
Meanwhile, diplomatic maneuvering intensified ahead of Trump’s upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia. Analysts believe Trump aims to pressure Netanyahu into making concessions to ease the Gaza conflict and facilitate steps toward normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Such a breakthrough would significantly alter the regional balance and further isolate Iran.
Ahead of his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu held talks with senior U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer, as well as Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
In a sign of the broad diplomatic effort, Trump also spoke Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II to discuss Middle East tensions and potential paths to peace.
