Trump: We're now negotiating with Iran by phone
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- The US is conducting negotiations with Iran via phone calls, a shift from previous long-haul flights for document reviews.
- President Trump reiterated that any potential deal hinges on Iran abandoning its nuclear weapons ambitions.
- The US had previously imposed a naval blockade on Iran and seized Iranian-linked ships, leading to retaliatory actions by Iran.
From Washington, the ongoing dialogue with Iran, even if conducted over the phone, signals a pragmatic approach by President Trump. The administration emphasizes that the ultimate goal remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The shift to phone negotiations, as highlighted by the President, represents an efficiency gain, avoiding the lengthy travel previously required for discussions. This underscores a focus on tangible progress and a clear stance on the non-negotiable issue of nuclear proliferation. The administration views the naval blockade and subsequent seizures as necessary measures to enforce international norms and prevent destabilizing actions in the region. The retaliatory actions by Iran are seen as further evidence of the need for a firm U.S. policy. The preference for direct engagement, even by phone, reflects a desire to keep channels of communication open while maintaining pressure on key security issues.
We are no longer making 18-hour flights each time to see a document. We are conducting negotiations by phone.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.