President Donald Trump raised concerns about nuclear proliferation, asserting that while certain countries possess nuclear capabilities, they should not be allowed to have them.

Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office, Trump warned of severe consequences for Iran if these discussions do not succeed.

He further said that ‘‘It’s not a complicated formula. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Right now we have countries that have nuclear power that shouldn’t have it. But I’m sure we’ll be able to negotiate out of that too as part of this later on down the line’’.

“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. He underscored that reaching a diplomatic agreement would be preferable to military intervention, highlighting the dangerous implications of failing to secure a deal.

The talks are set to commence this coming weekend, although Trump hinted that preliminary communications have already begun. He emphasized that these negotiations aim to avert “the obvious,” which he referred to as potential military strikes either by the U.S. or Israel on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

While details regarding the location and participants of the talks remain undisclosed, Trump issued a clear warning: if the negotiations fail, Iran will face “great danger.” He reiterated that Iran must not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, stating, “It’s not a complicated formula.”

Trump’s announcement comes on the heels of his decision during his presidency to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement brokered by Barack Obama that provided Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its uranium enrichment. Critics have argued that Iran has since accelerated its nuclear program, moving closer to developing a bomb.

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Netanyahu, who considers Iran a grave threat to Israel, has consistently opposed any agreements allowing Iran to maintain a nuclear program. Meanwhile, Iran denies any intentions of developing nuclear weapons, claiming its activities are solely for civilian purposes.

The U.S. and Iran have not had direct diplomatic relations since 1980, following the hostage crisis at the American embassy in Tehran. As both nations prepare for talks, the international community will be watching closely to see if an agreement can be reached to address the ongoing nuclear concerns.