The website Axios reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed President Donald Trump does not want Iran to possess a nuclear bomb. Jared Kushner will join the negotiations in Istanbul between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The meeting will focus on shaping a comprehensive agreement to prevent war, and the Trump administration hopes Iran will offer concessions.
According to Axios on Monday, Hegseth said that “President Trump has said Iran will never have a nuclear bomb.”
The site noted that Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi plan to meet in Istanbul on Friday to discuss a potential nuclear agreement and other issues.
Axios quoted a U.S. official saying that “Jared Kushner will join the negotiations between Witkoff and Araghchi in Istanbul,” emphasizing that “the Istanbul meeting will focus on trying to shape a comprehensive deal that prevents the outbreak of war.”
The U.S. official added that “the Trump administration hopes Iran will be ready at the meeting to offer the necessary concessions.”
He continued, saying that “President Trump is calling for an agreement, and the purpose of the meeting is to hear what both sides have to say.”
An Iranian Foreign Ministry official said earlier that Tehran is studying the conditions for resuming talks with the United States soon, after both sides expressed readiness to revive diplomacy over the long‑standing nuclear dispute—helping ease fears of a new war in the region.