U.S. President Donald Trump ​said on Monday (February 16, 2026) that he would be ‌involved “indirectly” in talks between Iran and ​the U.S. over Tehran’s nuclear program ⁠set to begin on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) in Geneva, adding he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal.

“I’ll ‌be involved in those talks, indirectly. And they’ll be very important,” Mr. Trump ‌told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Tensions ‌are ⁠soaring ahead of the talks, ⁠with the U.S. deploying a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. The U.S. military is preparing for the ​possibility of a ‌sustained military campaign if the talks do not succeed, U.S. officials have told Reuters.

Asked about the prospects for a deal, Mr. Trump ‌said Iran sought tough negotiations but learned ​the consequences of such a hardened stance last summer when the U.S. ⁠bombed Iranian nuclear sites.

Mr. Trump suggested Iranians were motivated this time to negotiate.

“I don’t think they want ‌the consequences of not making a deal,” Mr. Trump said.

Prior to the U.S. joining Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran-U.S. nuclear talks had stalled over Washington’s demand that Tehran forgo enrichment on ‌its soil, which the U.S. views as a pathway ​to an Iranian nuclear weapon.

Iran’s civil defence organisation on Monday (February 16, 2026) held a ⁠chemical defence drill in the Pars Special Economic ⁠Energy Zone to strengthen preparedness for potential chemical incidents in the energy hub ‌located in southern Iran.