U.S., Iran to meet for nuclear deal talks on Saturday

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that United States negotiators on Saturday would begin direct talks with Iran about its nuclear program. Trump warned that Iran would be in danger if it did not cooperate on the talks. His remarks were consistent with his previous threats to bomb the country unless it agreed to not to develop nuclear weapons.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed the planned talks, which will be hosted in Oman, but said they would be indirect. Araghchi also said that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff would lead the American delegation and that Iran had no plan to switch to direct talks, the Associated Press reported.

Has Iran been developing nuclear weapons? Araghchi recently reiterated Iran’s claim that it has never sought, developed, or bought nuclear weapons. But the International Atomic Energy Agency, which regularly investigates Iran’s compliance with nuclear treaties, in February found the country had not fully reported its nuclear capability. Iran seemed to be refining uranium in greater quantities and in more locations than it disclosed, according to the agency.

Dig deeper: Read my previous report on Iran’s response to Trump’s bombing threats.