By : JD
Jordan Daily – U.S. and Iranian officials are set to begin high-stakes nuclear talks on Saturday, each side questioning whether the other is serious or merely stalling, Axios reported.
President Trump has warned that Iran must quickly agree to a deal or risk military action. “The main question we want answered from the Iranians is whether they have the political will to have a serious discussion so that we won’t have to resort to the other alternative,” a U.S. official told Axios, adding that Trump is “prepared to make compromises.”
Iran remains cautious, citing Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement. “We do not prejudge. We do not predict,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei. “We intend to assess the other side’s intent and resolve this Saturday.”
Baqaei added that the U.S. should “value” Iran’s willingness to give diplomacy “a genuine chance” despite Trump’s “confrontational hoopla.”
The U.S. team will be led by envoy Steve Witkoff, seen as a diplomatic voice in the administration, alongside State Department nuclear experts. Iran’s delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a key figure in the 2015 deal.
Talks are expected to begin indirectly, with the potential for direct discussions later in the day if progress is made.
A U.S. official said Witkoff plans to echo Trump’s letter to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, stating the U.S. prefers peace but will act to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons or destabilizing the region.
