Trump Says US to Meet Iran Next Week, Putin Talks Ahead

Former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that American officials are scheduled to meet with Iranian counterparts next week, marking the first formal diplomatic engagement between the two nations since the recent 12-day military conflict between Iran and Israel. The announcement came during Trump’s remarks at the NATO summit in The Hague. Trump described the planned talks as “a step toward peace” and emphasized that recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes had successfully degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, creating space for renewed negotiations. While he celebrated the strikes as “a tremendous success,” U.S. intelligence and international inspectors have offered more cautious assessments, noting that Iran's underground facilities may have withstood more damage than initially believed. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also raised concerns, as Iran’s parliament recently approved a suspension of cooperation with the agency. The move could hinder independent verification of the current state of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. In a related development, Trump confirmed plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days. According to Trump, the conversation will focus on resolving the war in Ukraine. He added that while Putin had offered assistance regarding Iran, he declined the offer, urging the Russian leader to instead concentrate on ending the conflict with Kyiv. “He was very nice,” Trump said of Putin, “but I told him: focus on peace in Ukraine. That’s where he needs to make the right move.” Meanwhile, the cease-fire between Iran and Israel remains in place, and U.S. officials are working behind the scenes to ensure its durability. Special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that backchannel communication with Tehran has been ongoing since the cessation of hostilities. Trump’s comments come amid broader NATO discussions on strengthening collective defense. Leaders at the summit agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with Trump hailing the move as “a historic commitment” by the alliance. As diplomatic activity intensifies, all eyes now turn to next week’s anticipated U.S.–Iran meeting and the potential for a new phase in regional negotiations.

ECONOMICS