ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Congressman John Larson emphasized to Rudaw the importance of continuing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, warning that the talks hold significant implications for both regional and global security.
“I think it's vitally important that we make sure that these [nuclear] discussions [between Iran and the United States] continue and we get the result that everybody desires,” Larson said.
Asked by Rudaw where he thought the talks were headed, Larson stated that it is “hard to say,” but stressed that “there is a lot at stake here and certainly the peace around not only in the Middle East but around the world.”
“Nuclear threats are serious and gotta be taken as such,” Larson added.
US President Donald Trump on Monday said that “direct talks” between Washington and Tehran have begun, adding that, “Maybe a deal [with Iran] is going to be made. That would be great. We are meeting very importantly on Saturday [April 12], at almost the highest level.”
Trump also noted that both the US and Israel would prefer a diplomatic solution over military confrontation with Iran, but hinted at possible military action against Iran if the talks are unsuccessful.
“I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious, and the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or frankly, that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it,” he said.
Trump threatened that Iran will be in great danger if the talks fail.
"I think if the talks aren't successful with Iran, I think Iran is going to be in great danger. And I hate to say it. Great danger. Because they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
A few hours later, Iran responded to Trump’s remarks ruling out direct engagement with the US over its nuclear program.
In a statement he posted on X early on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that “Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect high-level talks.”
He emphasized that the anticipated engagement “is as much an opportunity as it is a test” and that “the ball is in America's court.”
The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency on the same day cited Araghchi as confirming that he and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will lead their respective delegations to hold “indirect talks” in Oman on Saturday, April 12.
Araghchi had previously stated that his country is open to “indirect talks” with Washington, and rejected as “pointless” the direct engagement “with a party that constantly threatens to resort to force in violation of the United Nations Charter.”
