US President Donald Trump has recently stated in private conversations that the United States has decided to stop trying to persuade Iran to engage in talks over its nuclear program.
“If they want to come—they are welcome. But we are not going to try and convince or beg them to do so,” the president said in several discussions, according to two sources who spoke with The Jeursalem Post.
Trump's remarks come after a prolonged effort by his administration to convince Tehran to hold negotiations, insisting that any deal must prohibit Iran from enriching uranium.
Iran refuses to give up uranium enrichment
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Iran’s stance in an interview with Fox News, saying, “We cannot give up our right to enrich uranium.” He also noted that the attacks by Israel and the US had caused significant damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In response, President Trump posted on Truth Social: “If necessary—we will strike the nuclear sites again.”
On Friday, a meeting is set to take place in Istanbul between Iran’s deputy foreign minister and the deputy foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany. European countries have warned Iran that if a new nuclear agreement is not reached by August, the UN Security Council will trigger the snapback mechanism, reimposing significant sanctions on Iran.