Trump signals indirect role in high-stakes Iran nuclear talks

US & Iran – (Web Desk) – Donald Trump said on Monday that he would take part “indirectly” in crucial nuclear discussions between the United States and Iran, scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva. He also expressed confidence that Iran is now more willing to reach an agreement.

Speaking to journalists, Trump described the upcoming meeting as extremely important and said he would remain involved behind the scenes. His remarks came at a time when tensions are rising, with the US sending another aircraft carrier to the Middle East and preparing for possible military action if diplomacy fails, according to Reuters.

Trump noted that Iran had previously taken a firm stance during negotiations but faced serious consequences last summer when US forces targeted its nuclear facilities. He suggested that those events may have pushed Tehran to reconsider its position and approach talks more seriously.

Donald Trump warns Iran that it does not want the consequences of rejecting a nuclear deal. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, he said talks continue but time is running out, as the US deploys two aircraft carrier groups to the region.#DonaldTrump #USIran #NuclearDeal #MiddleEast… pic.twitter.com/vAPwySoXxN

— Geo Frontline (@geofrontlinetv) February 17, 2026

He added that Iran understands the risks of not reaching a deal and may now prefer a peaceful solution. Earlier negotiations had collapsed mainly because Washington demanded that Tehran stop enriching uranium within its own territory, which the US believes could lead to nuclear weapons development.

Trump also said that military action could have been avoided if Iran had agreed earlier, but the US ultimately carried out strikes to weaken Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“I hope they’re going to be more reasonable.”

The remarks contrast with those by the US president on Friday, when he embraced potential regime change in Iran and lamented decades of failed talks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with the UN nuclear watchdog chief on Monday, saying in a post on X that he was in Geneva to “achieve a fair and equitable deal.”

“What is not on the table: submission before threats,” Araqchi said.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency has been calling on Iran for months to say what happened to its stockpile of 440 kg (970 pounds) of highly enriched uranium following Israeli-US strikes and let inspections fully resume, including in three key sites that were bombed in June last year: Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against any attack, which would choke a fifth of global oil flows and send crude prices sharply higher.

Iran held a military drill on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international waterway and oil export route from Gulf Arab states, which have been appealing for diplomacy to end the dispute.

Despite Trump’s comments about Iran seeking a deal, the talks face major potential stumbling blocks.

Washington has sought to expand the scope of talks to non-nuclear issues such as Iran’s missile stockpile.

Tehran says it is only willing to discuss curbs on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief and won’t accept zero uranium enrichment. It says its missile capabilities are off the table.

Speaking during a visit to Hungary on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reaching a deal with Tehran would be hard.

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“I think that there’s an opportunity here to diplomatically reach an agreement … but I don’t want to overstate it either,” Rubio said.

“It’s going to be hard. It’s been very difficult for anyone to do real deals with Iran, because we’re dealing with radical Shia clerics who are making theological decisions, not geopolitical ones.”