Trump confirms US is engaged in current negotiations with Iran

2026-02-03 - 23:35

President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed that diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran are currently underway. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump offered the brief confirmation, "They are negotiating," but did not elaborate on the substance, location, or participants involved in the talks. Announcement Amid Military Incident The president's remarks came on the same day the US military reported downing an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea. According to US Central Command, the unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down by a fighter jet after it approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, underscoring the tense environment in which these diplomatic efforts are taking place. Reference to Past Military Action In his comments, Trump alluded to past military pressure, referencing "Operation Midnight Hammer" and suggesting Iran would not desire a repeat of such actions. "I don't think they want that happening again, but they would like to negotiate. We are negotiating with them right now," he stated, framing the current dialogue within a context of demonstrated US military capability. Broader Context of Regional Diplomacy This confirmation aligns with broader reports of planned US-Iran talks, potentially hosted by regional intermediaries. The situation reflects a dual-track approach of maintaining military readiness while pursuing diplomatic channels, a strategy fraught with complexity given the deep-seated disagreements over Iran's nuclear program and regional activities.