Trump to be indirectly involved in Iran talks

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump stated that he will be "indirectly" involved in talks between Iran and the United States on Iran's nuclear program, which are scheduled to begin today in Geneva, adding that he believes Tehran wants to reach an agreement, Reuters reported.

"I will be indirectly involved in those talks. And they will be very important," Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

Tensions are rising ahead of the talks, and the US will deploy a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. The US military is preparing for the possibility of an extended military campaign if the talks fail, US officials told Reuters.

Asked about the prospects for an agreement, Trump said Iran had sought tough negotiations but learned the consequences of such a stance last summer when the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites.

Trump suggested that the Iranians are motivated to negotiate this time.

"I don't think they want the consequences of not reaching an agreement," Trump said.

Before the United States joined Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran-US nuclear talks stalled due to Washington's demands that Iran abandon uranium enrichment on its soil, which the US considers a path to Iranian nuclear weapons.

Iran's Civil Defense Organization held a chemical defense exercise on Monday in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone to strengthen readiness for potential chemical incidents in the energy hub located in southern Iran.