Iranian state-affiliated outlet rejects Trump's remarks on direct talks

"We're not denying the fact that having to act militarily is always an option," Pahlavi told a Washington DC event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI).

"But I think it will be historically criminal not to give the Iranian people a chance to make that happen before you have to resort to those less likable scenarios," he added.

US President Donald Trump has extended an offer to Iran for direct negotiations aimed at addressing concerns over its nuclear program. But the overture was accompanied by a stern warning: failure to engage would result in bombing "the likes of which they (Iran) have never seen before."

Pahlavi added that moving straight from diplomacy to military action would be ill advised. "Once again, you're throwing the people of Iran under the bus, which will only add salt to injury."

In response to Trump's bombing threat, Iran elevated its military readiness and cautioned neighboring countries against supporting any US military actions, warning of repercussions for neighbors who might facilitate an attack.

Addressing the same event, South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson said "preventing Iran's regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon, which is existential for the United States and for American families and has been cited about the missile programs, is the foremost urgency."

He referred to the recent downfall of Iran's staunch ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, adding that he is "very hopeful that the success of the people of Syria should be the equivalent for the Middle East of the fall of the Berlin Wall, for the Europe and Central Asia for ultimately liberation of countries around the world."

Last week, Wilson introduced a new bipartisan bill pushing for measures to empower Iranians to help overthrow the government in favor of a democratic alternative including facilitating greater internet access and funding for dissidents.

The Maximum Support Act, introduced by Wilson and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), would require the administration to develop an aggressive interagency strategy aimed at backing Iranian dissidents who would be pivotal in the process.

The legislation outlines a set of initiatives including facilitating secure communications for activists, appointing a special representative for coordinating support efforts and forming multi-agency teams to counter online censorship and government surveillance.

It also calls for offering safe channels for defection by Iranian officials and utilizing information shared by defectors.

“The Iranian regime will fall sooner rather than later,” Wilson said after introducing the bill.

“We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It'll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting, and we’ll see what can happen.”

Officials in Tehran had consistently ruled out direct talks with Washington — until just hours before Trump’s surprise announcement.

The US president said the negotiations are being conducted “almost at the highest level,” brushing aside Iran's public preference for indirect talks.

“A lot of people say, ‘Oh, maybe you’re going through surrogates,’” he said. “No, we’re dealing with them directly.”

The announcement came amid heightened tensions in the region and growing concern in the United States and Israel over Iran’s nuclear activities.

The talks pursued by the Trump administration have been cast as a last-ditch effort to avoid military action.

“I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious,” he said. “And the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or, frankly, that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it.”

Trump did not specify what concessions the United States might be willing to offer or what demands it would bring to the table, but his comments suggested a focus on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That’s all there is,” he said, adding that "it'll be a very bad day for Iran," if the negotiations were to yield no results.

Netanyahu, sitting beside Trump, did not speak at length but nodded as the president spoke. Israel has long been skeptical of diplomacy with Tehran.

The announcement follows weeks of backchannel maneuvering and comes at a moment when both nations face domestic and international pressure.

Iranian officials did not immediately comment on the planned meeting.

"I think if the talks aren't successful with Iran, I think Iran is going to be in great danger ... because they can't have a nuclear weapon. You know, it's not a complicated formula. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That's all there is," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.

"If the talks aren't successful, I actually think it'll be a very bad day for Iran if that's the case."

US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Tehran set for Saturday will proceed at senior levels.

"We're dealing with the Iranians. We have a very big meeting on Saturday, and we're dealing with them directly," he told reporters at the White House on Monday.

"You know, a lot of people say, oh, maybe you're going through surrogates, or you're not dealing directly. You're dealing through other countries. No, we're dealing with them directly."

"We're meeting, very importantly, on Saturday at almost the highest level. We'll see how it works out."

The United States has begun direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program and a meeting is set for Saturday, US President Donald Trump said on Monday.

"We're having direct talks with Iran, and they've started. It'll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting, and we'll see what can happen," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious. And the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or, frankly, that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it," Trump added, sitting alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Hopefully those talks will be successful, and I think would be in Iran's best interests, if they are successful."