Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has once again warned Iran to halt any attempts at developing nuclear weapons, stating that failure to do so could result in "severe consequences," including potential military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he believes Iran is deliberately stalling progress on the nuclear deal.
These remarks come just two days after indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington were held in Oman, signaling a renewed diplomatic effort between the two longtime adversaries. Trump noted that Iran is now "very close" to acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities, urging Tehran to act swiftly to avoid escalation.
Iran, for its part, continues to emphasize that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
The latest round of talks is taking place amid uncertainty about their location, with conflicting reports suggesting different venues. Axios reported, citing two sources, that the next session is expected to be held in Rome, Italy, while Iranian officials have stated that the talks will remain indirect, similar to those in Oman.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that while the format of the talks remains unchanged, the venue may shift. One reason cited for moving the negotiations from Oman to Europe is the geographical convenience for U.S. delegates, and concerns over Oman’s increasing temperatures in the coming weeks.
This is the second time in recent days that President Trump has addressed the matter publicly. On Saturday, a high-level meeting between Iran’s Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Whitkoff took place in Oman, which both sides described as "constructive." They agreed to reconvene later this week.
Trump reiterated his earlier stance that if the nuclear discussions fail to yield results, military options remain on the table. However, he declined to provide further details on the timing or nature of any potential decision.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has remained silent on the diplomatic developments but urged Iran’s military leaders to maintain high alert and full readiness during a meeting on Sunday.
Axios also reported that a rare 45-minute face-to-face conversation occurred between Iranian and American officials, although Iranian authorities have not confirmed this claim. Previously, Iranian officials had acknowledged only a brief in-person exchange during farewells.
Araghchi, in an interview with Iranian state media, noted that the talks in Oman took place over two and a half hours in separate rooms, with Oman's Foreign Minister shuttling messages between the delegations. He described the negotiations as “respectful” and “appropriate to the gravity of the subject.”
Despite mixed signals about the directness of the talks—Trump earlier stated they would be direct, while Iran insists they are not—debate continues within Iran. Hardliners remain opposed to direct engagement with the U.S., while reformist voices are pushing for quicker, face-to-face diplomacy.
During a Nowruz meeting with top military commanders, Ayatollah Khamenei indirectly addressed the ongoing negotiations, stating that Iran’s real challenge is not its identity as the Islamic Republic, but its determination to remain independent and uphold its sovereignty, which he claims provokes hostility from enemies.
Iran’s military chief, Mohammad Bagheri, also emphasized the armed forces' full preparedness and pledged to thwart any attempts by enemies to achieve their goals.
