A person writes a slogan on a portrait of the U.S. President Donald Trump throughout a rally commemorating anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the late pro-U.S. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and introduced Islamic clerics to energy, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. Trump says the US and Iran can have direct nuclear talks quickly.
Vahid Salemi/AP/AP
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Vahid Salemi/AP/AP
President Trump stated that america will maintain direct talks with Iran on its nuclear program, beginning Saturday.
“We have a very big meeting, and we’ll see what can happen. And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious,” Trump stated, as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within the Oval Workplace.
Throughout his first time period, Trump withdrew from the 2015 landmark nuclear cope with Iran negotiated by then-President Barack Obama.
Trump supplied few particulars in regards to the upcoming talks, solely saying the assembly will probably be at “almost the highest level.”
Netanyahu, who has ceaselessly referred to as the potential of a nuclear-armed Iran an existential risk to Israel, stated he and Trump are united within the purpose that Tehran won’t ever get nuclear weapons.
“If it can be done diplomatically in a full way, the way it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing, Netanyahu said. “However no matter occurs, now we have to make it possible for Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons.”
Trump said it would be in Tehran’s best interests to make a deal with his administration.
“We’re coping with them immediately and possibly a deal goes to be made. That might be nice, it will be actually nice for Iran,” he said, warning that if the talks weren’t successful “it will likely be a really unhealthy day for Iran.”
Gaza ‘freedom zone’
The meeting Monday was the second between the U.S. and Israeli leaders since Trump began his second term. During their first meeting, also at the White House, Trump announced a proposal to remove the Palestinian population of some 2 million people from the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been fighting Hamas since the militant group launched an assault on Israel in October 2023.
Netanyahu’s visit comes just weeks after the Israeli military resumed a major ground offensive in Gaza, shattering hopes that a ceasefire would be extended to get out more the remaining 58 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas 18 months ago. More than 30 are believed to be dead.
Trump stated he hoped a brand new ceasefire may very well be labored out, and that remaining Israeli hostages could be launched.
He additionally returned to his imaginative and prescient of the way forward for a post-war exodus of Palestinians from Gaza, which Arab nations have roundly rejected.
“I think it’s an incredible piece of important real estate, and I think it’s something that we would be involved in. But, you know, having a peace force like the United States, there controlling and owning the Gaza Strip, would be a good thing,” he stated.
He stated if the Palestinians had been moved to different nations, the Gaza Strip might then turn out to be what he termed a “freedom zone.”
