Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
President Donald Trump mentioned on Monday that he would be “indirectly” involved in the crucial nuclear discussions with Iran taking place on Tuesday in Geneva. He feels confident that Tehran is interested in reaching a “deal,” though he expressed concerns that his administration might not want to face “the consequences of not getting a deal,” especially with U.S. military presence increasing in the Middle East.
While aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized to reporters the significance of the upcoming meeting, describing it as a new diplomatic effort that will coincide with visible U.S. military strategies and plans in case the negotiations fall short.
“I will be indirectly involved in those discussions, and they will be very important,” Trump stated. “Let’s see what happens.”
He characterized Iran as a “very tough negotiator” and suggested that prior negotiations were mismanaged by his administration.
Trump remarked, “You could say they’re bad negotiators, because they could have made a deal instead of sending B-2s to negate the nuclear possibility, but we had to send B-2s.” This was a reference to last year’s U.S. military action against Iran’s nuclear sites after diplomacy failed.
When asked about his claim that a deal might be “nearly impossible,” Trump was evasive. “No, no. I think they want to make a deal. I don’t think they want the consequences of not getting a deal,” he asserted.
The negotiations on Tuesday will also involve Trump’s representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Oman will act as a mediator again after previous meetings in Muscat. Iran was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, leading what they described as a diplomatic and technical team.
Araghchi had a meeting with the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, on Monday, leading to fruitful technical discussions prior to the new round of indirect negotiations.
In a posting on X, Araghchi expressed his belief that he arrived in Geneva with “real ideas for achieving a fair and just deal,” stressing that “submission in the face of threats” is not an option for Iran.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanshi supported this position, saying, “The ball is in the US court.” He noted that Iran is open to negotiating aspects of its nuclear program, like enrichment levels and stockpiles, as long as sanctions relief is part of the talks.
“If we are also willing to discuss sanctions,” he added, “we are willing to discuss this and other issues related to our program.”
In the meantime, Japan is steering its diplomatic approach amid the increasingly advanced U.S. military presence in the region.
A report highlighted how the Pentagon is using diplomatic openings to enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities, moving additional assets while preparing to act beyond nuclear facilities if required.
According to another report, U.S. military assets, including fighter jets and missile defense systems, are being redeployed closer to the Middle East as part of a strategy to deter Iran and maintain credible strike options should negotiations collapse.
Trump indicated he informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December that he would support an Israeli strike on Iran’s missile program should diplomacy falter, and discussions in the U.S. are focused on how to assist with this, including air refueling and operational coordination.
Interestingly, Iran is combining its diplomatic efforts with military readiness. On the eve of the Geneva talks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route, claiming they were preparing for “potential security and military threats.” Iranian state media showcased what it termed a decisive maritime response capability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ruling clerics in Iran as driven by “pure theology,” reinforcing the administration’s strategy of combining diplomatic efforts with military readiness to safeguard American interests.
Senator Lindsey Graham, during his visit to Israel, noted that Trump is pursuing a “dual diplomatic and military strategy” and indicated that a decision regarding Iran could come “within weeks, not months.” He emphasized the strong alignment between Trump and Netanyahu on Iran policy.
In confirming this alignment, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee remarked that Washington and Jerusalem are “fully aligned” as they seek to resume discussions.
For Trump, the message to the negotiators in Geneva is clear: while diplomacy is on the table, the military influence behind it is undeniable. He remarked regarding the negotiations, “I think they’ll be successful. If not, it’s going to be a bad day for Iran, a very bad day.”
