President Donald Trump on Monday announced he would be willing to meet senior Iranian leaders to secure a deal ending the ongoing conflict with Iran.
In recent remarks, Trump dismissed Tehran’s claims that it might skip upcoming peace talks in Pakistan, signaling confidence negotiations would proceed despite escalating tensions. “We’re supposed to have the talks,” he stated. “So I would assume at this point nobody’s playing games.”
The president confirmed Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and senior adviser Jared Kushner had already departed for Islamabad to prepare for high-stakes meetings, emphasizing urgency as the ceasefire nears expiration. “They’re heading over now,” Trump added. “They’ll be there tonight.”
Trump also left open the possibility of direct diplomatic engagement at the highest level, stating he would personally meet Iranian leadership if it could secure a breakthrough. “I have no problem meeting them,” he said. “If they want to meet, and we have some very capable people…”
Central to negotiations is a firm U.S. demand: Iran must abandon its nuclear program. Trump repeatedly emphasized this as nonnegotiable, declaring, “Get rid of their nuclear weapons. That’s all very simple. There will be no nuclear weapon.”
While maintaining an optimistic tone about potential outcomes, Trump warned of severe consequences should diplomacy fail. When pressed on next steps, he declined specifics but stated, “You can imagine… It wouldn’t be pretty.”
The remarks come amid rising tensions following Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global shipping route—where the U.S. accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by targeting vessels. Trump has maintained a dual-track approach combining diplomatic outreach with readiness to use force if necessary. Earlier Monday, he told PBS that expiration of the ceasefire on Wednesday would mean “lots of bombs start going off.”
Concurrently, Trump highlighted a potential upside of a deal, arguing Iran could become a “wonderful country” by abandoning nuclear ambitions and re-engaging internationally. With global markets closely watching and allies growing increasingly concerned about Middle East stability, the coming days are poised to be pivotal.
