US President Donald Trump disclosed on Tuesday that he requested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone any military action against Iran to avoid disrupting ongoing nuclear negotiations. Speaking candidly, Trump acknowledged telling Netanyahu that striking Iran at this juncture would be inappropriate given the "very good discussions" underway.
"I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution," Trump said, expressing optimism about a diplomatic breakthrough that could save many lives. According to reports, last week’s call between Trump and Netanyahu included intense discussions on handling Iran, with Trump emphasizing his commitment to a negotiated agreement that benefits all parties involved.
Trump further hinted at potential progress in the Tehran talks, stating, "We've had some real progress, serious progress," and anticipating that a significant announcement regarding the negotiations might occur within days. He made these remarks while speaking in northern New Jersey.
The latest, fifth round of talks took place over the weekend at the Omani embassy in Rome, mediated by Oman’s government. US representatives included Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the US State Department policy planning director. These discussions represent the highest-level direct engagement between the US and Iran since America withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal during Trump’s previous administration.
Although Trump has reinstated a "maximum pressure" policy since returning to office in January, he remains open to diplomatic solutions, warning of military responses only if negotiations fail. Iran is seeking relief from severe economic sanctions through a renewed agreement.
Despite some progress, Iranian Foreign Minister and chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi advised caution, noting "the negotiations are too complicated to be resolved in two or three meetings." Similarly, Oman’s foreign minister described the recent talks as yielding "some but not conclusive progress."
These negotiations precede a critical June meeting of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which will review Iran’s nuclear activities and influence future diplomatic efforts.
