Updated: Trump Confirms U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Begin Saturday \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump revealed the U.S. will begin direct nuclear talks with Iran, starting Saturday. The announcement came during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, which centered on U.S. tariffs and Middle East tensions. A planned joint press conference was abruptly canceled.
Quick Looks
- President Trump confirms direct U.S.-Iran nuclear talks to begin Saturday
- Announcement came during Trump’s Oval Office meeting with PM Netanyahu
- Joint press conference canceled without explanation by the White House
- Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to visit Trump since tariff hikes
- Trump ignored questions about global markets and Israel tariffs
- Israel preemptively lifted U.S. tariffs, but still hit with 17% duties
- Netanyahu’s focus includes Gaza war, Iran, and ICC arrest warrant
- Trump may leverage tariffs to push Netanyahu toward a Gaza ceasefire
- France organized a pre-meeting call with Macron, El-Sisi, and King Abdullah
- Israeli industries could lose $3B annually and 26,000 jobs due to tariffs
Deep Look
Trump Confirms U.S. Nuclear Talks With Iran as He Meets Netanyahu Amid Tariff Storm
In a surprise announcement Monday, President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States will begin direct negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, with talks set to start this Saturday. The revelation came shortly after Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, in a visit defined by escalating tariff tensions and ongoing Middle East conflicts.
“Tehran can’t get nuclear weapons,” Trump insisted, offering no additional details about the scope or structure of the upcoming dialogue with Iranian officials.
The president’s announcement adds a new layer of urgency to a diplomatic week already marked by rising trade disputes and regional instability. Despite the high-stakes visit, a scheduled joint press conference with Netanyahu was canceled at the last minute without explanation, further fueling speculation about the talks’ behind-the-scenes complexity.
Netanyahu’s Visit Overshadowed by Tariff Fallout
Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to visit Trump since the president launched his sweeping new global tariffs—measures that have triggered backlash from allies and sent stock markets into sharp declines.
Though Israel attempted to dodge the tariffs by announcing the removal of its own levies on U.S. goods just one day earlier, the tactic failed. Israel still ended up on the list of countries subjected to a 17% tariff, part of Trump’s aggressive “Liberation Day” economic agenda aimed at boosting domestic industry.
The Israeli prime minister’s hastily organized Washington trip was intended to negotiate relief or exemptions, but insiders say it also served to strengthen ties with Trump ahead of critical Middle East negotiations.
Middle East Agenda: Gaza, Iran, ICC, and Saudi Normalization
Netanyahu’s office emphasized that the visit was not only about trade. On the agenda were several pressing geopolitical flashpoints:
- The ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza
- Tensions with Iran and its nuclear program
- Friction with Turkey
- A controversial arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Prospects for normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia
Analysts believe that Trump may be using the tariffs as leverage to push Netanyahu toward at least a temporary truce in Gaza, possibly as a confidence-building measure ahead of broader normalization efforts with the Saudis. Any deal with Saudi Arabia would likely require significant Israeli concessions regarding the Palestinian conflict.
Diplomatic Coordination and Private Meetings
Before meeting Trump, Netanyahu held talks with key Trump officials, including:
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
- U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer
- Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East
He also met informally with senior Trump aides Sunday night upon arriving in Washington.
Trump, in turn, spoke by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, all of whom are deeply involved in efforts to reduce regional tensions.
The conference call was reportedly organized by France, signaling coordinated international pressure for restraint and diplomacy in the region.
Israel’s Economic Risks From U.S. Tariffs
While Israel represents a small export market for U.S. goods, the United States is a crucial trade partner for Israel, especially in high-tech sectors. The tariffs could be devastating for Israeli industries.
The Manufacturers Association of Israel estimates the new tariffs could:
- Cost Israel $3 billion annually in exports
- Lead to 26,000 job losses in biotech, chemicals, plastics, and electronics
- Deter foreign investment and harm Israel’s global image as a hub of innovation
“The damage won’t stop at exports,” said Ron Tomer, the organization’s president. “It will scare investors, encourage companies to leave Israel and undermine our image as a global center of innovation.”
What’s Next in the Iran Nuclear Talks
Trump’s confirmation that U.S.-Iran nuclear talks will begin Saturday is the first public indication of direct engagement since his second term began. The talks could signal a pivot from confrontation to containment, even as the administration continues to threaten sanctions or potential military responses to Iranian escalation.
The announcement came with no formal confirmation from Tehran, leaving room for diplomatic maneuvering—or derailment—depending on how both sides approach the opening rounds.
For Netanyahu, Trump’s overture to Iran could be deeply concerning. Israel views a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat, and Netanyahu has long been one of the most vocal critics of any U.S.-Iran engagement perceived as weak.
Final Thoughts
President Trump’s confirmation of nuclear talks with Iran during Netanyahu’s visit represents a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy posture—and a strategic gambit aimed at reshaping regional alliances and calming volatile trade relations.
As Netanyahu navigates both economic fallout from tariffs and growing pressure to de-escalate in Gaza, the coming days may reveal whether this visit results in tangible change—or further complicates a deeply entangled diplomatic web.
With Iran, Gaza, and Israel-Saudi relations on the table, Trump’s next foreign policy moves could define the region’s trajectory for years to come.
Updated: Trump Confirms Updated: Trump Confirms
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