Trump says he will be indirectly involved in second roundindirectly involved in second round of Iran nuclear talks
President Donald Trump announced on February 17, 2026, that he would be "indirectly" involved in the second round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations scheduled to begin in Geneva on Tuesday. Trump expressed optimism that Iran wanted to reach a deal, citing the country's desire to avoid military consequences following US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites the previous summer. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner represented the American side in the talks, which were mediated by Oman and focused on Iran's nuclear program and potential sanctions relief. The negotiations marked a continuation of diplomatic efforts that began after Trump wrote to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in March 2025 proposing nuclear talks, with Iran eventually agreeing to engage after internal deliberation about the risks of continued confrontation.
US Position
Trump framed the talks as an opportunity for Iran to avoid military consequences by accepting limits on uranium enrichment and other nuclear activities. The US sought to leverage the previous bombing campaign as evidence of its willingness to act militarily, arguing that Iran's rational choice was to negotiate a deal that would include inspections and sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear constraints.
Iranian Position
Iran's leadership, represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, insisted on indirect talks and signaled readiness to negotiate after weighing the costs of continued confrontation. Iranian officials sought quick removal of all financial sanctions as a condition for signing a nuclear agreement, while simultaneously criticizing Trump's rhetoric and military threats as inconsistent with genuine diplomatic engagement.
- Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, led the US negotiating team alongside Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.
- Oman served as the mediator for the talks, reflecting its traditional role as a diplomatic intermediary in Middle Eastern disputes.
- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously published an op-ed in The Washington Post appealing directly to Trump to pursue negotiations.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
