Ahead of Rome meeting, Trump says Iran dragging out nuclear talks
President Donald Trump said Iranian negotiators were “tapping us along” and threatened military action if a deal is not reached.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday voiced impatience with Iran over the pace of nuclear talks as the two sides gear up for another round of negotiations in Rome.
On Saturday, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held the administration's first round of indirect talks with Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in Oman. The two sides agreed to resume talks on April 19 in the Italian capital.
"That's a long time, so I think they might be tapping us along,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
The potential for Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities and the Oct. 18 deadline for the snapback of UN sanctions creates strong incentives for Iran to prolong talks with the United States. Speaking alongside El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump again threatened military action against Iran if it doesn’t soon reach a deal on its rapidly expanding nuclear program.
