The United States and Iran will hold important talks this Saturday, aiming to reach a new deal over Iran’s nuclear program. Former US President Donald Trump confirmed the meeting, saying it will be “direct” and at a “very high level.” Iran’s foreign minister also confirmed the meeting but described it as “indirect,” calling it both an opportunity and a test.
The meeting will take place in Oman on 12 April, and many are watching closely, as the talks could affect peace and security in the region.
Trump Warns of Consequences if Talks Fail
Trump, speaking from the White House during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warned that if Iran and the US do not reach an agreement, it would be a “very bad day for Iran.” He added that Iran would be in “great danger” if the talks failed and insisted that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
However, Trump did not share many details about the upcoming meeting—such as who will be attending or how far talks have progressed.
Iran Says the Ball Is in America’s Court
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that the meeting would be held in Oman. In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), he said: “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court.” This means Iran believes it’s now up to the US to show how serious they are about making peace.
Background: The Long-Running Dispute Over Nuclear Weapons
The US and its allies have long worried that Iran might try to develop nuclear weapons. Back in 2015, then-US President Barack Obama signed a deal with Iran and five other countries (China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK). This deal said Iran would stop making nuclear weapons and only use its nuclear facilities for peaceful purposes.
In return, Iran got relief from economic sanctions, which had badly hurt its economy.
Trump Pulled the US Out of the Deal in 2018
In 2018, President Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 deal. He had always criticized the agreement, saying it was weak and didn’t stop Iran properly. After that, Iran slowly began breaking the rules of the deal. International inspectors have since reported that Iran has built up large amounts of enriched uranium—a material that can be used to make nuclear bombs.
Trump Offers to Negotiate Again
In March, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s top leader through an official from the United Arab Emirates. The letter said Trump was ready to talk. While Iran rejected the offer at first, they showed interest in starting indirect talks through a third party.
Now, with both sides agreeing to meet in Oman, there’s hope for a fresh deal—but there’s also a lot of risk if the talks fail.
Israel Strongly Opposes a Nuclear Iran
Israel, a long-time rival of Iran, has made it clear that it will not allow Iran to build nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was at the White House with Trump, said the US and Israel are united in this goal.
“If it can be done diplomatically in a full way, like it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing,” Netanyahu said, referring to past international efforts to stop other countries from building nuclear weapons.
