London – Iranian officials confirmed Monday that Tehran would hold a high -level “indirect” talks with US representatives in Oman this weekend regarding Iran’s nuclear program, although it seemed to be contrary to President Donald Trump’s statement that negotiations were “direct”.
Trump told reporters at the Oval office on Monday, “We held a direct talks with Iran, and they had started. This will take place on Saturday. We have a very large meeting, and we will see what can happen.”
“You know, many people say, ‘Oh, maybe you are going through a replacement or you don’t deal directly. You deal through other countries.’ No, we deal with them directly.
Asked on Tuesday whether the conversation would indeed be direct, the White House National Security Spokesman told ABC News, “The President is clearly in his remarks.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the meeting would take place in Oman on April 12, even though they emphasized they would be “indirect high -level talks.”
President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House Oval Office, April 7, 2025, in Washington.
Kevin Mohatt/Reuters
“This is the same opportunity as a test,” Araghchi said in a post to social media.
Iranian government spokesman Fatemeh Mohajerani also told Tuesday’s press conference that the upcoming conversation with the US would be “indirectly.”
“We believe in negotiations,” he said, as quoted by the State -managed Islamic News Agency. “We have previously stated that if the language of respect is used, we will negotiate.”
“Details will appear during negotiations,” added Mohajerani. “Because negotiations have not begun, there are no details that we can share now,” he said.
“As a negotiator party with the same perspective on talks, what is important for us to focus on our national interests, whatever improves the situation for our people, and topics that have previously been discussed. Hopefully, we will have wise negotiations in front,” he added.
The US and Iran have been involved in indirect talks several times in recent years. The country traditionally plays the role of mediation between Washington and Tehran, including during the talks held there in 2023.
Iranian officials so far rejected Trump’s offer to be involved in direct talks. President Masoud Pezishkian said in March that “Although direct negotiations between the two parties were rejected, it had been stated that the road for negotiations was indirectly open.”
If direct talks occur as Trump said, they will be the first direct negotiation that the public knows between the US and Iran since the president came out of the 2015 comprehensive nuclear plan in 2018.
In recent weeks, Trump has threatened potential military actions against Iran not to develop nuclear weapons.
“I think everyone agrees that doing an agreement will be better to do clear,” said the President Monday, spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “And what is clear is not something I want to get involved, or, frankly, that Israel wants to be involved if they can avoid it,” he said.
“So, we will see if we can avoid it,” Trump continued. “But it becomes a very dangerous area. And hopefully the conversation will succeed. And I think it will be the best interests of Iran if they succeed.”
ABC News’ Shannon K. Kingston and Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report.