Trump says he will be ‘indirectly’ involved in Iran talks, warns of consequences if deal fails

Trump says will be 'indirectly' involved in Iran talks; warns Tehran of 'consequences of not making a deal'

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would be involved "indirectly" in the upcoming US-Iran talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, set to begin Tuesday (February 17) in Geneva, as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived for the second round of indirect negotiations.

“I'll be involved in those talks, indirectly. And they'll be very important,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Tensions in the Gulf remain high, with the US deploying a second aircraft carrier to the region and preparing for a potential sustained military campaign if negotiations fail, according to US officials.

Trump indicated that Iran’s leadership had learned the consequences of a hardened stance during last summer’s US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, suggesting Tehran was now motivated to negotiate. “I don't think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” he said.

Ahead of the talks, Iran launched a chemical defense drill in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone to strengthen preparedness for potential chemical incidents. Previous negotiations had stalled over Washington’s insistence that Iran halt uranium enrichment, which the US views as a step toward nuclear weapons development.

Trump’s remarks signal a cautious but firm approach as the US aims to limit Iran’s nuclear program while keeping diplomacy on the table, amid escalating military and strategic activity in the Gulf.