President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House, Washington. AP
The United States and Iran, which have not had diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, are seeking a new nuclear deal after Trump pulled out of a landmark agreement during his first term.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are due to meet in Rome on Saturday, a week after they held the highest-level Iranian-US nuclear negotiations since the collapse of a 2015 accord.
In March, Trump sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging talks but warning of possible military action if they failed to produce a deal.
Trump administration officials revealed to the New York Times that Israel had sought Washington's assistance to carry out an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in May.
According to the Times, the plan and its possible maneuvers were under consideration for months.
But during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House last week, Trump told the Israelis he would not support an attack. The president instead publicly announced the direct talks with Tehran.
Iran has consistently denied that it is seeking nuclear weapons, but has stepped up its nuclear capacities since Trump scrapped the 2015 agreement.
The latest International Atomic Energy Agency report noted with "serious concern" that Iran had an estimated 274.8 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, nearing the weapons grade of 90 percent.
On Thursday, Trump said he is "not in a rush" to take military action against Iran's nuclear facilities but did not confirm a New York Times report that he had intervened to prevent an Israeli strike.
"I wouldn't say 'waved off,'" he said, in reference to the Times report that he told the Israelis he would not support strikes.
"I'm not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country," he added. "That's my first option. If there's a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran and I think Iran is wanting to talk. I hope they're wanting to talk."
Meanwhile, Oman confirmed on Thursday that it was still mediating a second round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, set to take place over the weekend in Rome.
"Oman is pleased to be facilitating and mediating this meeting in Rome, which has been chosen as the venue for logistical reasons," the Omani foreign ministry said in a statement on X.
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