US and Iran expected to hold talks on April 12

US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is holding high-level "direct" talks with Iran and that a "very big meeting" will be held on April 12.

Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister confirmed that a meeting will take place on April 12, but stressed that the talks will be "indirect."

“Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for high-level but indirect talks,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on April 7 on the X platform, shortly after Trump spoke about the talks.

"This is an opportunity, but also a test. Now the ball is in America's court," he said.

Iran has insisted on indirect negotiations, stating that it will not hold direct talks as long as the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran is in effect.

From the White House, Trump told reporters that the talks are taking place "at a very high level, almost the highest," and stressed that there are no intermediaries.

"We're going to have a very big meeting, and we'll see what happens. I think everyone agrees that a deal would be a good idea," Trump said at a surprise press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"If the talks with Iran are not successful, I think Iran will be in great danger," Trump added, insisting that the Islamic Republic should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu briefly touted the idea of ​​a deal with Iran similar to the one with Libya – a reference to the 2003 agreement, when Libya agreed to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction programs.

Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian purposes and has previously rejected any possibility of a Libya-style deal.

Earlier this month, Trump called for “direct talks” with Tehran, saying they are “faster” and provide a better understanding than using intermediaries. He suggested at the time that a new deal with Iran could be “different and probably much stronger” than the 2015 deal.

He had previously sent a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, requesting negotiations and warning of military action if diplomacy fails.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on April 5 that Tehran was ready to engage in dialogue on an equal footing. A day later, Araghchi said in a statement that Iran was prepared for indirect talks.

After withdrawing from the nuclear deal in 2018 during his first term as president, Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the deal. Iran responded by accelerating its nuclear program and is currently enriching uranium to 60 percent, considered close to weapons-grade.

Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if a deal is not reached over its nuclear program. Iran has warned it will give a "strong response" to any aggression and suggested it would develop a bomb if attacked.

The US administration has given mixed signals on whether it intends to limit Iran's uranium enrichment or completely dismantle Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran has not commented on Trump's statement that direct talks have already begun./ REL