Trump pressures Iran ahead of Geneva nuclear talks: "Be more reasonable"

Additional arms sales to Taiwan: "Decision soon"

U.S. President Donald Trump on the 17th (local time) said the nuclear talks between the United States and Iran to be held in Geneva would be "very important," adding that he would also be indirectly involved in the discussions.

According to the White House press pool, President Trump said this on the 16th while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on his return to the White House from Florida, saying, "I don't think they (Iran) want the consequences if they can't make a deal."

Recalling the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities carried out by the U.S. military in June last year, he said, "We could have made a deal instead of sending B-2 bombers to destroy their nuclear potential," adding, "I hope they are more reasonable. They want a deal."

The Trump administration, which is seeking to deploy a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, has prioritized talks with Iran while maintaining that it could take military action if negotiations fail.

The United States and Iran resumed nuclear talks on the 6th in Oman. It was the first face-to-face engagement over the nuclear issue in eight months since talks were suspended after Israel and the United States conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last year. However, with wide differences over Iran's uranium enrichment, the prospects for an agreement remain unclear.

Meanwhile, asked whether the United States would sell additional weapons to Taiwan, President Trump said, "We'll make a decision very early," stressing that he maintains a "good relationship" with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He also urged a deal regarding the ceasefire talks among the United States, Russia and Ukraine, also set to be held in Geneva on the 17th, saying, "Ukraine should get to the (negotiating) table quickly."

Park Soo-rim, Hankyung.com reporter paksr365@hankyung.com