Trump Says He Will Be Indirectly Involved in Second Round of US–Iran Nuclear Talks

By Ginika Igboke

President Donald Trump said on Feb. 16 that he will be indirectly involved in the second round of nuclear negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials scheduled for Feb. 17 in Geneva.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described the talks as “very important” and said he expects Iran to reach an agreement that would limit its nuclear weapons program.

“We’ll see what can happen, but typically Iran is a very tough negotiator,” Trump said. “I think they want to make a deal. I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal.”

Trump added that Iran could have avoided the June 2025 U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities by agreeing to a deal earlier. Following the strikes, Tehran formally suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“I would say they’re bad negotiators because we could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential,” Trump said, referring to the stealth bombers used in the June attack. “We had to send the B-2s. So I hope they’re going to be more reasonable.”

Iranian Officials Arrive in Geneva

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that he arrived in Geneva with a team of nuclear experts ahead of the talks.

“I am in Geneva with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal. What is not on the table: submission before threats,” Araghchi wrote.

He is expected to meet with Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating the negotiations, before discussions with U.S. officials. On Feb. 16, Araghchi also met with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Grossi said they held “in-depth technical discussions” in preparation for the U.S. talks.

On June 12, the IAEA declared Iran noncompliant and in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Disagreements Over Scope of Talks

The first round of negotiations, held in Oman on Feb. 6, ended without an agreement.

Washington is seeking to broaden discussions beyond nuclear issues to include Iran’s missile stockpile. Tehran has said it is willing to discuss limits on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief but will not accept zero uranium enrichment. Iranian officials have also stated that the country’s missile capabilities are not open for negotiation.

Trump has warned that failing to reach a deal would have severe consequences for Iran. The United States recently deployed a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said Iran does not seek conflict but would respond forcefully to any attack on its territory, following Trump’s statement last month that he had sent “a massive armada” to the region.