 "'Think they're tapping us along': Trump repeats threat of military strike if Iran refuses to abandon nuclear programme")
President Donald Trump on Monday said that he believes Iran is deliberately stalling negotiations over a nuclear agreement with the US and warned Tehran that it must abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons or risk the possibility of a military strike targeting its atomic facilities.
“I think they’re tapping us along,” Reuters quoted Trump as telling reporters after US special envoy Steve Witkoff met in Oman on Saturday with a senior Iranian official.
“Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
When asked if a potential response could include strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, The Guardian quoted Trump as saying, “Of course it does.”
Trump said the Iranians need to move fast to avoid a harsh response because “they’re fairly close” to developing a nuclear weapon.
Both Iran and the US described their recent talks in Oman on Saturday as “positive” and “constructive.” A second round of discussions is scheduled for this coming Saturday, with a source familiar with the planning indicating that the meeting will likely take place in Rome.
Speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the source said the talks are intended to explore potential areas of agreement, including outlining a broad framework for a possible future deal.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDuring former President Joe Biden’s administration, the United States and Iran engaged in indirect talks, though they yielded little to no tangible progress.
The last publicly known direct negotiations between the two countries occurred under President Barack Obama, who led efforts to secure the 2015 international nuclear agreement—an accord later abandoned by President Donald Trump.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
