Nuclear talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Trump administration took place on April 12th and 19th, in Oman and Italy respectively. U.S. President Donald Trump initially stated his optimism, widely reported in Iran, but talks have since been suspended. During his first term as president, he was a staunch opponent of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), viewing it as contrary to the national interests of the United States and Israel. Despite his ally, Israel, opposing any U.S. deal with Iran, Trump has indicated a willingness to negotiate with Tehran. The Trump administration even rejected an Israeli proposal for a joint air strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
From the perspective of the administration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the primary purpose of the negotiation with Washington is to prevent a joint attack by Washington and Tel Aviv on Iran's nuclear power plants and facilities. Trump threatened repeatedly that if Tehran was unwilling to negotiate, the U.S. would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, a policy that was welcomed by Israeli officials. The current administration in Tehran is also concerned with the impact of a large-scale aerial campaign against its continued tenure. This is telling, since Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, had also previously banned any negotiations with the Trump administration. Khamenei criticized Trump's aggressive rhetoric as counterproductive. He also warned that there would be a tough response to the U.S. if nuclear and military centers are bombed, although Iran’s weak strikes against Israel undermined this deterrent.
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