“I’d rather do it the peaceful way, but these are very dangerous people” Trump says as U.S. weighs next steps on Iran
President Donald Trump said he would prefer a peaceful resolution to the standoff with Iran but warned the U.S. is weighing “a very big decision” as indirect nuclear talks grind on and Washington increases its military presence in the region.
“I’d rather do it the peaceful way, but I want to tell you that these are very dangerous and difficult people,” Trump said in remarks the State Department highlighted in a post on X.
Trump’s comment came as U.S. and Iranian negotiators wrapped another round of indirect talks in Geneva without announcing a deal, leaving the possibility of further escalation hanging over the Middle East. Trump has said he wants an agreement that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and has insisted Iran must halt uranium enrichment, a position Tehran has resisted.
Oman, which has been mediating between the two sides, confirmed the Geneva talks and said both parties were approaching negotiations with a “positive push,” even as major gaps remained. U.S. officials have signaled that more time may be allowed for diplomacy, while also emphasizing that military options remain on the table if talks fail.
The remarks also come amid visible signs of contingency planning and heightened alert levels. The U.S. has surged forces into the region, including deploying the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, a move that drew protests when the ship docked at a U.S. naval base on the Greek island of Crete. The Financial Times also reported the United States and other Western governments were pulling some diplomats and urging citizens to leave parts of the region as fears of conflict rose, with oil markets reacting to the uncertainty.
Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, while the U.S. and its allies have said they cannot allow Tehran to acquire a nuclear weapon. Mediators have suggested a pathway could involve limits on enrichment, management of existing uranium stockpiles and expanded inspections — issues that remain at the center of negotiations.
Trump’s rhetoric has mixed diplomacy with warnings. In recent comments reported during travel in Texas, he said he would prefer the “peaceful way” but portrayed Iran as a long-running threat, arguing any agreement must be “meaningful.”
For now, the talks remain open-ended. Oman and other intermediaries have urged patience, even as both sides prepare for additional technical discussions and the U.S. keeps significant military assets positioned nearby — a dual-track approach that has become the defining feature of the current phase of the standoff.
