The U.S. is pressing to hold direct nuclear talks with Iran, U.S. officials say, as the Trump administration seeks an ambitious goal: dismantling Tehran’s nuclear program. If Iran agreed to engage, the talks would be the first sustained direct negotiations between the two countries since President Trump withdrew from the previous nuclear agreement in 2018.

US President Donald Trump said he believed Iran was willing to engage in direct talks over its nuclear program, a day after Tehran indicated it would only negotiate through intermediaries.

President Donald Trump is considering indirect nuclear talks with Iran, according to a report by Axios, which cited two unnamed U.S. officials, while also preparing the ground for military strikes. Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have exchanged letters in recent weeks.