Trump Doubles Down: Iran Must Forget About Nuclear Weapons Before Next Round of Talks

President Donald Trump made it crystal clear on Monday that the US isn't budging from its long-held stance: Iran must give up any thought of having a nuclear weapon. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump sat beside El Salvador's president and delivered a trademark line: "Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon." The message could not be more direct—if only international diplomacy were as simple as tossing out a concept.

He went on to remark, "Iran wants to deal with us, but they don't know how. They really don't know how." This was classic Trump, never missing a chance to call out his negotiating counterparts for being, well, a little lost at sea.

Looking ahead, Trump confirmed that American officials will meet again with Iranian representatives next Saturday in Italy. This follows the initial round of talks that kicked off in Oman just a week prior. While the details of these discussions are still tightly under wraps, both sides are framing them as constructive—or at least not catastrophic, which is saying something in the world of nuclear diplomacy.

According to Iranian state media, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi "briefly spoke" during a two-hour sit-down, a sign that Iran is at least showing up for the conversation, even after initially refusing direct talks. The White House echoed the positive vibes, calling the talks "very positive and constructive," though they didn't shy away from admitting there are still "very complicated" issues on the table.

Trump has been pushing for quick negotiations, but he’s keeping his own timeline close to the vest. There’s been no word yet on exactly how long the US will stick with diplomacy before considering more forceful options. Trump has openly threatened military action in the past if Iran doesn't halt its nuclear ambitions, but exactly how far the US plans to go remains a big question mark, especially as Iran's missile programs continue to creep forward.

Always the dealmaker, Trump told reporters, "I'll solve that problem. It's almost an easy one," putting the challenge of ending Iran’s nuclear aspirations on par with stopping Russia’s war in Ukraine—as if either is just another item on his to-do list. He did add, "I think Iran could be a great country as long as it doesn't have nuclear weapons. If they have nuclear weapons, they'll never get a chance to be a great country."