Trump: Iran ready for direct nuclear talks, no need for intermediaries

US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Iran is open to direct discussions regarding its nuclear program, contradicting Tehran's earlier indication that it would prefer negotiations through intermediaries.

“Forget about letters, I think they want to have direct talks," Trump said, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on April 3, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

He emphasized his belief that a one-on-one conversation with Iran would be more productive and could expedite the process of reaching a deal.

“I think it goes faster and you can understand the other side a lot better than if you go through intermediaries,” Trump explained. “They wanted to use intermediaries. I don’t think that’s necessarily true anymore. I think they’re concerned. I think they feel vulnerable, and I don’t want them to feel that way.”

This statement came just one day after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran was ready for “genuine negotiations, from a position of equality, and in an indirect manner” during a phone call with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on April 2. Despite this, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had previously rejected the idea of direct talks with the Trump administration, citing military threats.

In 2018, President Trump withdrew the US from the landmark nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which had placed restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Since returning to the office, Trump has ramped up his “maximum pressure” campaign, increasing sanctions on Tehran while warning of potential military action should efforts to reach a new agreement fail.