Axios: Trump Seriously Considering Iran's Proposal for Indirect Talks

American sources say the White House is seriously considering the Islamic Republic of Iran's proposal to begin indirect nuclear talks; a proposal reportedly conveyed to Washington through Oman. This report was published by the news website 'Axios' on Wednesday, April 1, citing two American officials. These developments occur as Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has stated he prefers a deal to be reached but has warned that if negotiations fail, the option of bombing Iran remains on the table. He has given Iran a 'two-month deadline' to reach an agreement, although it is unclear when this deadline starts. According to Axios, there are also debates within the White House between two factions: one group believes a deal is possible, while another considers negotiations fruitless and emphasizes attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. Simultaneously, the Pentagon has deployed extensive forces and equipment around Iran to ensure readiness in case Trump decides to attack. An 'official U.S. source' stated that Donald Trump received Tehran's official response to a letter he sent three weeks ago to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. In this letter, Trump requested direct negotiations, but Iran has only agreed to indirect talks mediated by Oman. According to Axios, although American officials consider direct negotiations more effective, they do not completely dismiss indirect talks and do not oppose Oman playing a mediating role. One official stated, 'After the exchange of letters, we are considering the next steps to initiate dialogue and build trust between the two countries.' Meanwhile, verbal tensions between Tehran and Washington have also escalated. On April 1, Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran, and Ali Khamenei responded the next day, saying he does not believe it is likely that the U.S. and Israel would want to attack Iran, 'but if they do, they will certainly face a severe counterattack.' Iran has also registered its official diplomatic protest through the Swiss embassy, which represents U.S. interests in Tehran, warning that it will respond 'immediately and decisively' to any threats. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has not specified the nature of this 'severe counterattack,' but Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guards, said during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, 'The Americans have at least 10 bases around Iran, with over 50,000 troops. This means they are sitting in a glass house.' Ali Larijani, an advisor to the Supreme Leader, also warned that 'if the U.S. or Israel bomb Iran under the pretext of its nuclear program, the people will pressure to pursue nuclear bomb development.' Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and adopted a 'maximum pressure' policy to force Tehran to accept a new agreement. However, no new agreement has been reached during his administration or afterward under Biden. Meanwhile, Iran has increased its uranium enrichment levels and has reached the threshold of nuclear capability, although it continues to claim it is not seeking nuclear weapons. Tehran has also stated it is unwilling to negotiate on issues such as its missile program. On the other hand, the Pentagon announced on April 1 that it has increased its air forces and equipment in the region and that the presence of the aircraft carriers 'Truman' and 'Vincent' will continue. Last week, several stealth bombers B-2 were transferred to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean; an action that, according to Axios, an American official did not consider unrelated to Trump's two-month deadline. These bombers have the capability to carry bunker-buster bombs that can damage Iran's underground nuclear facilities. Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman, also stated, 'If Iran or its proxy forces pose a threat to U.S. forces and interests in the region, the United States will respond decisively.' According to Axios, currently, an American official emphasized that Trump does not want war with Iran, but he needs more military presence to create deterrence during negotiations and to be prepared for action if talks fail. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, held an unprecedented meeting on Wednesday with key ministers and experts regarding Iran, especially the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. This action came as concerns among Washington's European allies about a potential military attack by the U.S. or Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities have increased. According to Reuters, citing diplomatic sources, this meeting was held in response to escalating tensions between Iran and the Trump administration. Hours after this meeting, the French Foreign Minister warned that if negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program fail, military confrontation with Tehran will be 'almost inevitable' and that this confrontation will significantly destabilize the region. Jean-Noel Barrot also emphasized that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, adding, 'Our priority is to reach an agreement that limits Iran's nuclear program in a verifiable and sustainable manner.' Meanwhile, the U.S. Defense Secretary has strengthened military forces in the Middle East and continues airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen, which are supported by Iran. According to Reuters, a European official stated that European strategists fear these operations may be a precursor to a potential attack on Iran. France, Germany, and Britain are trying to encourage Iran to return to negotiations regarding its nuclear program. They have begun technical discussions with Iranian officials, but coordination among Europeans with the Trump administration, which emphasizes 'maximum pressure,' has been reported as difficult. The U.S. government under Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement and reinstated severe sanctions against Iran. Since then, Iran has ignored the limitations of the agreement and increased its uranium enrichment levels. However, Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. European powers hope to reach a new agreement with Iran before the expiration of the agreement in October 2025.