Trump says US to engage in ‘direct talks’ with Iran

President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. would be engaging in what he called “direct talks” with Iran.

Sitting alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office, Trump said they would begin this coming weekend.

“We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started. It’ll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting, and we’ll see what can happen,” he said.

“And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious. And the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or, frankly, that Israel wants to be involved with if they can avoid it. So, we’re going to see if we can avoid it. But it’s getting to be very dangerous territory. And hopefully those talks will be successful. And I think it would be in Iran’s best interests if they are successful,” he said.

Last month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkiansaid rejected an offer for direct talks in a letter sent by Trump, according to state media.

Saturday’s meeting would be the first between the U.S. and Iran since the 2015 nuclear deal.

Trump has threatened potential military action against Iran to keep it from developing nuclear weapons.

“We have a very big meeting on Saturday, and we’re dealing with them directly,” he said Monday. “You know, a lot of people say, ‘Oh, maybe you’re going through surrogates or you’re not dealing directly. You’re dealing through other countries.’ No, we’re dealing with them directly. And,, maybe a deal is going to be made.”

“That’ll be great,” he continued. “That be it’d be really great for Iran, I can tell you that. But hopefully we’re not going to have to get into that. We we’re meeting, very importantly on Saturday at almost the highest level. And we’ll see how it works out.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.