President Trump said on Monday that he would participate "indirectly" in talks scheduled to begin Tuesday in Geneva between U.S. and Iranian officials over Tehran's nuclear program, and told reporters aboard Air Force One that he believed Iran wanted to secure an agreement.
"I'll be involved in those talks, indirectly. And they'll be very important," the president said, reiterating his expectation that Tehran prefers to reach a deal rather than face the consequences of failing to do so.
The announcement comes amid rising tensions in the region. The United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, and U.S. military planners are reportedly preparing for the contingency that negotiations will not succeed and that a sustained military campaign could become necessary.
When asked about the chances of a deal, the president contrasted Iran's current posture with actions taken last summer, noting that the United States bombed Iranian nuclear sites then and suggesting Iran had learned from those consequences. "I don't think they want the consequences of not making a deal," he said.
Observers note that prior to the U.S. joining Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran-U.S. nuclear talks had been stalled over Washington's insistence that Tehran abandon enrichment activities on its own soil, which the U.S. views as a pathway to a potential weapon.
Separately, Iran's civil defense organization conducted a chemical defense exercise on Monday at the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone. The drill aimed to strengthen preparedness for potential chemical incidents in the energy hub located in southern Iran.
The combination of diplomatic engagement, a bolstered U.S. military posture in the region, and Iran's own preparedness measures underscores the high stakes of the Geneva talks. Officials are balancing a diplomatic process with contingency planning for military options should talks break down.
At this stage, the president's stated indirect involvement frames the talks as internationally significant and closely watched by military planners and regional energy stakeholders alike.