President Donald Trump addressed Iran nuclear negotiations during an Air Force One press conference Monday, revealing he will be “involved indirectly” in upcoming Geneva talks and defending the U.S. decision to deploy B-2 bombers against Iranian nuclear sites.
“So I will be involved in those talks, indirectly, and they will be very important, let’s see what can happen. Iran is a very tough negotiator, I would say they’re bad negotiators because we could’ve had a deal instead of sending the B2s into knockout, their nuclear potential, and we had to send the B2s. I hope they’re gonna be more reasonable, they wanna make a deal.”
— President Donald Trump, Air Force One
When a reporter noted a deal has been described as “next to impossible,” Trump pushed back: “I think they wanna make a deal. I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal.”
How We Got Here
The U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations have been among the most consequential — and volatile — diplomatic efforts of the Trump presidency. Here’s the timeline:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | Trump reinstates maximum pressure campaign, demands new nuclear deal |
| Apr 12, 2025 | Round 1 begins in Muscat, Oman — Witkoff meets Araghchi, described as “constructive” |
| Apr 19, 2025 | Round 2 in Rome — indirect talks continue |
| May 27, 2025 | Trump says both sides “close to finalizing” with strong inspections |
| May 31, 2025 | IAEA reports Iran has record stockpile of military-grade enriched uranium |
| Jun 12, 2025 | IAEA declares Iran in breach of non-proliferation obligations |
| Jun 13, 2025 | Israel launches large-scale strikes on Iran; Iran suspends talks indefinitely |
| 2025-2026 | U.S. carries out B-2 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites; full Iran-Israel war erupts |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Round 2 of direct negotiations resumes |
| Feb 16, 2026 | Trump confirms indirect involvement in upcoming Geneva talks |
Key Players
The U.S. negotiating team includes Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Director of Policy Planning Michael Anton, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper, and presidential advisor Jared Kushner. Iran’s team is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Deputy FM Majid Takht-Ravanchi, and Supreme National Security Council member Ali Larijani.
The B-2 Factor
Trump’s reference to “sending the B2s to knockout their nuclear potential” confirms the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were intended as both a military objective and diplomatic leverage. The strikes followed the collapse of Round 1 talks and the IAEA’s breach declaration. Trump is now framing the military action as a consequence of Iran’s refusal to negotiate — and a warning of what comes next if Geneva fails.
What’s at Stake in Geneva
The Geneva talks represent the first serious attempt to restart negotiations since Israel’s June 2025 strikes triggered a full-scale Iran-Israel war. With approximately 50,000 U.S. troops in the region, the IAEA confirming Iran’s weapons-grade enrichment capabilities, and the B-2 strikes having degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the dynamics have shifted dramatically from Round 1.
Trump’s assertion that Iran “wants to make a deal” — combined with the implicit threat that they “don’t want the consequences” — sets the stage for what could be the most consequential nuclear negotiation since the original JCPOA in 2015.
Developing — monitoring Geneva talks and additional Air Force One remarks.
⚡ Why it matters: Trump’s comments confirm direct U.S. engagement in Iran nuclear talks while using B-2 strikes as leverage. Geneva could determine whether the Middle East moves toward a deal or deeper conflict.
📊 Key context:
- Round 1: Apr-Jun 2025 (collapsed, led to war)
- Round 2: Resumed Feb 6, 2026
- ~50,000 U.S. troops in Middle East
- IAEA: Iran had record weapons-grade uranium stockpile
- U.S. B-2 strikes degraded Iranian nuclear sites
- Key negotiators: Witkoff, Kushner (U.S.) vs Araghchi, Larijani (Iran)
