Trump Team Holds ‘Constructive’ Face-to-Face Nuclear Talks with Iran, Plans to Meet Again Next Weekend

In an unexpected but clever step, former United States President Donald Trump's close aides had face-to-face nuclear talks with senior Iranian officials this weekend, which both parties acknowledged to be a "positive" signal to defuse the accumulated tension in the past years.

The meeting of top diplomatic officials had been carried out at a place located in-between two sides in Europe which was a significant departure from prior developments when the Biden administration pulled out of the talks without involving any high officials. A person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to comment publicly and asked for anonymity, said that the discussion was mainly focused on Iran’s uranium enrichment program, the Middle Eastern regional stability and also building up a potential framework of future cooperation.

A Trump administration insider who was briefed on the meeting’s agenda described the talks as "extensive, frank, and unexpectedly future-oriented." The source, following the condition of anonymity, indicated that despite the heavy existence of unwanted results, the initial agreement of both sides to not treat the talks in a light manner was a step in the right direction.

“This was not about mere formalities or media appearances,” the contact explained. “This was about trying to figure out whether we could still meet and we believe the possibilities are.”

The Iranian media also leaned towards a positive reading of the event. In a rare instance of unity of opinion, the state media noted that the conversation was “critical in the mutual concern” and the discussions were “serious in the tone.” Moreover, Iran assured its position of not giving in to the condition of nuclear disarmament for non-military uses but at the same time suggested that there was still an open window for further dialogue.

"In reality, it was acknowledged by representatives from both sides that there will be a second round of meetings next weekend, which indicates the readiness to continue diplomatic talks," - this is from the mouth of one of the sources.

A Pre-planned Strategy from Trump’s Camp

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election looms closer, most of the political experts see this as a political move by Trump’s team. They believe that Trump’s support group is using this opportunity to revamp Trump’s image of foreign policy. Trump, who was known for his brutal words on Iran during his term, went as far as to sign out of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA). However, we noticed that Trump is just trying a different method now: negotiations that are direct, but under his conditions.

“It can be assumed that the reason behind this is less of a focus on Iran and more on the image,” said Dr. Nadine Crawford, political analyst. “Via diplomatic behavior, Trump can show that he is not only capable of confrontation but also of holding conversations. It can be used to attract swing voters who want a leader making the right decisions but not overly aggressive.”

Nevertheless, the plan was highly criticized in Washington as well, especially by the defenders of national security who see Iran as an unreliable partner. The opponents claim that reviving negotiations without proper preconditions may be taken as a sign of weakness.

But the President’s camp denied this implication. The adviser rebuffed the claims. “The point is that nothing is being given to the other party,” the advisor underscored the idea. “It is just knowing where we are and what the potential will be.”

Local and Global Profits or Losses?

No matter the apparent improvement in the U.S.–Iran communication through dialogues, the risks are still undeniably high. The U.S. implemented the nuclear agreement withdrawal in 2018, and the tension has only been increasing ever since, finally resulting in a range of military escalations, trade wars, cyber-attacks, and economic sanctions. Iran then increased its uranium enrichment, now standing very close to weapons-grade enrichments — to the anger of Tehran, who claims it is for peaceful purposes.

At present, countries such as Israel and Saudi Arabia from the region are more concerned with these conversations. Consequently, they both have never been in favor of any settlement that allows Iran to have nuclear capabilities, even limited ones.

Meantime, members of the EU and China, in part, the global powers, are also sharing their views but very cautiously. Given the multitude of conflicts existing in the world today such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Taiwan Strait tensions, many of them would certainly appreciate the decrease in the intensity of these conflicts, especially that it wouldn't only have a positive impact on global economies but also it would grant an ample opportunity for diplomats.

What Will Happen After That?

The next phase of talks, scheduled for the weekend, would have an in-depth impact on the nuclear technical issues and most likely well as be connected with the future compliance by economic incentives. Despite the fact that there has been no prediction of a quick resolution by somebody who has a hand in the matter, the longevity of the talks alone is talent enough.

Nonetheless, there are officials from Iran who are reportedly not willing to put pen to paper as of yet. “But we’re also not here to waste time.”

Thus far, the lost diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran has proven to be a false belief, as the door to dialogue was very slightly opened once again. The outcome of this opening depends entirely on the willingness of Washington and Iran to sign a peace accord or not.