Fact Check: "US officials were simultaneously negotiating with Iran during Trump's call."
What We Know
The claim suggests that U.S. officials were engaged in negotiations with Iran while President Trump was making a call regarding Iran's nuclear program. According to a report from Perry World House, senior American and Iranian officials did meet directly to negotiate over Iran's nuclear program on April 12, 2025, which was the first such meeting since Trump took office for his second term. This meeting occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions and complex political dynamics, including Iran's accelerated nuclear program following the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 (Perry World House).
In addition, the Trump administration had previously signaled a willingness to renew talks with Iran, particularly after military actions against Iranian nuclear sites (PBS). However, it is unclear whether these negotiations were happening simultaneously with any specific call made by Trump.
Analysis
The evidence regarding the timing of negotiations is somewhat ambiguous. The meeting on April 12, 2025, indicates that negotiations were indeed taking place, but it does not specify whether they were concurrent with a particular call made by Trump. The context provided by the Perry World House report suggests a complex interplay of military threats and diplomatic overtures, which could imply that negotiations were ongoing even as Trump was making calls about Iran.
Furthermore, the willingness of U.S. officials to engage in talks, as noted in the PBS article, suggests that there was an ongoing dialogue with Iran, although it does not confirm simultaneous negotiations during Trump's call. The reliability of the sources is generally high; the Perry World House is a reputable institution focused on international relations, and PBS is a well-established news organization. However, the lack of specific details about the timing of Trump's call and the negotiations leaves room for interpretation.
Conclusion
Needs Research. While there is evidence that U.S. officials were negotiating with Iran, the claim that these negotiations were happening simultaneously during a specific call by Trump lacks clarity and requires further investigation. The context of ongoing diplomatic efforts and military actions complicates the narrative, suggesting that while negotiations were likely ongoing, the precise timing relative to Trump's call remains unverified.
Sources
- U.S.-Iran Relations Under Trump 2.0: Lessons Learned and Likely ...
- President Trump's Display of Peace Through Strength
- Iran-United States relations during the first Trump administration
- Netanyahu decided on Iran war last year, then sought to ...
- If Iran retaliation ends here, Trump's high-risk strikes may ...
- U.S. officials signal willingness to renew talks with Iran and avoid ...