Iran and the United States will hold "high-level indirect talks" in Oman.

This was stated by the Iranian foreign minister, hours after US President Donald Trump announced talks with Tehran.

"Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for high-level indirect talks," Abbas Araghchi wrote on the social platform X, as quoted by AFP. 

"This is as much an opportunity as a test. The ball is in America's court," he added.

Before him, US President Donald Trump also announced that the United States was starting direct high-level talks with Iran over its nuclear programme.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said he hoped to reach a deal with Tehran, but warned that the Islamic Republic would be in "great danger" if the talks failed.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu indicated that the United States and Israel were working on another deal to free hostages from the war-torn Gaza Strip, where a ceasefire between Israel and Iran ally Hamas has failed.

"We're working with the Iranians, we have a very big meeting on April 12, and we're working directly with them," Trump told reporters after the meeting, which was to focus on Israel's attempt to avoid U.S. tariffs.

Trump did not say where the talks would take place, but insisted they would not involve proxies and would be at "almost the highest level."

Trump's stunning announcement came a day after Iran rejected direct talks on a new agreement to curb the country's nuclear program, calling the idea pointless.

The US president pulled out of the last deal in 2018, during his first presidency, and there has been widespread speculation that Israel, possibly with US help, could attack Iranian facilities if a new agreement is not reached.

Trump, however, issued a stern warning to Tehran.

"I think if negotiations with Iran are not successful, Iran will be in great danger, and I hate to say it, great danger, because it can't have nuclear weapons," he said.

Meanwhile, officials said Russia, China and Iran are due to hold consultations on the Iranian nuclear issue on Tuesday in Moscow.

Trump's revelation came at a time when Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to personally ask for a reprieve from the tough US tariffs that have rocked the world.

The Israeli prime minister promised to eliminate the trade deficit between the two countries, as well as to lower trade "barriers."

Before the meeting, his country lifted its last remaining tariffs on US imports. | BGNES