President Trump called for immediate negotiations on a nuclear agreement with Iran on Wednesday, just a day after reinstating his “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official signaled that the Islamic Republic is willing to give diplomacy with Trump another chance, despite deep concerns over possible Israeli sabotage.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump dismissed reports that the U.S. and Israel are planning an attack on Iran, emphasizing his preference for a “Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement” that would allow Iran to “peacefully grow and prosper.” The president reiterated that his goal is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, noting his reluctance to reimpose harsh sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi suggested that resolving U.S. concerns over Iran’s nuclear program is not complicated, pointing to Tehran’s long-standing opposition to weapons of mass destruction. However, Iran remains wary of potential sabotage from Israel and has urged Washington to rein in its key ally if it is serious about a deal.
The diplomatic signals come as Trump’s administration moves aggressively to cut Iran’s oil revenues to zero, including halting exports to China. The new sanctions, signed into effect by Trump on Tuesday, are aimed at forcing Tehran to the negotiating table. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, downplayed their impact, insisting that Iran can withstand economic pressure by managing its vast resources.
Beyond nuclear talks, Tehran made clear that its opposition to the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza is “a separate matter” from any potential deal with Washington. The remarks were a response to Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. could take control of war-ravaged Gaza and transform it into a “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere.
While Trump withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear deal in 2018, he has expressed willingness to negotiate directly with Iranian leaders. “We don’t want to be tough on Iran… but they just can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
