WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a surprise announcement during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that the United States would begin direct, high-level talks with Iran over its nuclear program this Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump expressed hope for a breakthrough with Tehran but warned that failure could place Iran in “great danger.”

“We're dealing with the Iranians. We have a very big meeting on Saturday — and we're dealing with them directly,” Trump said. “If the talks aren’t successful, Iran will be in great danger, because they cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

While Trump emphasized the talks would take place at “almost the highest level” and involve no intermediaries, Iranian officials offered a different characterization. Tehran confirmed that discussions were scheduled for Saturday in Oman but stressed they would be indirect.

According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will attend the talks, alongside U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

“This is as much an opportunity as it is a test,” Araghchi posted on X. “The ball is in America’s court.”

The announcement marks a dramatic shift after years of diplomatic deadlock. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran during his previous term in office. Since then, tensions have escalated, with Israeli officials repeatedly warning of possible military action against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Gaza and Hostage Negotiations
The Oval Office meeting also covered the situation in Gaza, where a temporary U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — a close Iranian ally — has collapsed. Netanyahu said negotiations were underway to secure the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

“We're working on another deal that we hope will succeed,” Netanyahu said. “We are committed to bringing all the hostages home.”

Trump reiterated his controversial plan for the U.S. to “control” the Gaza Strip, calling it a “great piece of real estate.” He originally floated the idea during Netanyahu’s previous visit in February.

Earlier in the day, Trump welcomed Netanyahu outside the West Wing with a fist pump before the two leaders headed into the Oval Office. A scheduled joint press conference was abruptly canceled without explanation, though both leaders spoke at length to a pool of reporters.

Tariff Tensions and Trade Talks
Netanyahu’s visit — his second since Trump’s return to office — came just days after the U.S. imposed a 17 percent tariff on Israeli goods as part of Trump's sweeping “Liberation Day” economic policy. The Israeli leader became the first foreign head of state to personally request a rollback of the tariffs.

During the meeting, Netanyahu pledged to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries and to eliminate remaining trade barriers. In a conciliatory move, Israel lifted its last tariffs on U.S. imports ahead of the visit.

The Israeli premier also held talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Sunday, followed by a meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday.

Regional Diplomacy in Motion
Meanwhile, officials in Moscow confirmed that Russia, China, and Iran will hold consultations on the nuclear issue Tuesday, signaling an uptick in multilateral efforts surrounding the Iranian program.

Despite long-standing tensions and skepticism, Trump’s direct outreach to Tehran marks a bold diplomatic gambit that could reshape dynamics in the Middle East — or plunge the region into deeper uncertainty if talks falter.