Speaking Monday in the Oval Office, Trump said he was hopeful of reaching a deal with Tehran, but warned that the Islamic republic would be in "great danger" if the talks failed.
Tehran confirmed discussions were set for Saturday in Oman, but stressed they were "indirect" talks.
According to Iranian news agency Tasnim, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will attend the talks, as will the top US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
"It is as much an opportunity as it is a test," Araghchi wrote on X. "The ball is in America's court."
Netanyahu meanwhile said the United States and Israel were working on another deal to free hostages from war-torn Gaza, where a ceasefire between Israel and Iran's ally Hamas has collapsed.
"We're dealing with the Iranians, we have a very big meeting on Saturday and we're dealing with them directly," Trump told reporters after a meeting that was meant to focus on Israel's bid to avoid US tariffs.
Trump did not say where the talks would take place, but insisted they would not involve surrogates and would be at "almost the highest level."
Trump's stunning announcement came after Iran dismissed direct negotiations on a new deal 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, might attack Iranian facilities if no new agreement is reached.
Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran, however.
"I think if the talks aren't successful with Iran, I think Iran's going to be in great danger, and I hate to say it, great danger, because they can't have a nuclear weapon," he said.
Meanwhile officials said that Russia, China and Iran were due to hold consultations on the Iranian nuclear issue on Tuesday in Moscow.
Trump's revelation came as Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to personally plead for a reprieve from stinging US tariffs that have shaken the world.
The Israeli premier pledged to eliminate the trade deficit between the two countries and also knock down trade "barriers."
His country moved to lift its last remaining tariffs on US imports ahead of the meeting.
- Gaza talks -
Netanyahu and Trump also discussed Gaza, where a short-lived, US-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas has collapsed.
Netanyahu said new negotiations were in the works aimed at freeing more hostages taken by Hamas during its unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which ignited the war.
"We're working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we're committed to getting all the hostages out," he said.
Trump also doubled down on his plan for the United States to "control" the Gaza Strip, which he described as a "great piece of real estate." He initially announced that plan when Netanyahu last visited him in February.
Earlier, Trump greeted Netanyahu outside the West Wing and pumped his fist, before the two leaders went inside for a meeting in the Oval Office.
Their planned press conference was canceled at short notice without explanation -- an unusual move. But they spoke to a smaller group of pool reporters at length in the Oval Office.
The Israeli premier's visit is his second to Washington since Trump's return to power, and comes at short notice -- just days after the president slapped a 17 percent tariff on Israel in his "Liberation Day" announcement last week.
Trump refused to exempt the top beneficiary of US military aid from his global tariff salvo as he said Washington had a significant trade deficit with Israel.
Netanyahu met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Sunday soon after his arrival, according to his office.
The Israeli premier also met Trump's envoy Witkoff on Monday.
Moscow welcomes US-Iran nuclear talks: Kremlin
Moscow (AFP) April 8, 2025 -
Moscow on Tuesday welcomed upcoming nuclear talks between the United States and Iran after Washington and Tehran made the shock announcement that high-level discussions were scheduled for Saturday.
US President Donald Trumps said Monday that the United States was starting direct talks with Iran over its nuclear programme, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We know that certain contacts -- direct and indirect -- are planned in Oman. And, of course, this can only be welcomed because it can lead to de-escalation of tensions around Iran," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Russia "absolutely" supported the diplomatic initiative, he added.
Moscow had previously called for tensions between Washington and Tehran to be resolved diplomatically, following Trump's apparent threat to bomb Iran if it did not come to the negotiating table.
Expert-level consultations between Russia, China and Iran on nuclear issues were also set to take place in Moscow on Tuesday, the Russian foreign ministry said.
China urged the United States to show "sincerity" in the talks with Iran, which confirmed the negotiations set to take place in Oman, but stressed they were "indirect" talks.
The Iranian nuclear deal collapsed after Washington abandoned it in 2018 during Trump's first term and reimposed sweeping sanctions.
Trump's announcement came after Iran dismissed direct negotiations on a new deal to curb the country's nuclear programme and called the idea pointless.
The Russian parliament also on Tuesday voted to ratify a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with its ally Iran.
With Russia facing sanctions over its military offensive in Ukraine, Moscow and Tehran have stepped up their cooperation in recent years.
China urges US to show 'sincerity' in Iran nuclear talks
Beijing (AFP) April 8, 2025 -
China urged the United States on Tuesday to show "sincerity" in nuclear talks with Iran, a day after Washington and Tehran made the shock announcement that high-level discussions would take place this week.
President Donald Trump said that the US would start direct talks with Iran over its nuclear programme on Saturday, warning that the Islamic republic would be in "great danger" if the negotiations failed.
Tehran confirmed the discussions set to take place in Oman, but stressed they were "indirect" talks.
"As the country that unilaterally withdrew from the comprehensive agreement on the Iran nuclear issue and caused the current situation, the US should demonstrate political sincerity (and)... mutual respect," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Tuesday.
Washington should "participate in dialogue and consultation, and at the same time stop its wrong practice of using force to exert extreme pressure", Lin said.
"China will continue to maintain communication with all relevant parties, actively promote peace and dialogue and push for a diplomatic solution at an early date," he added.
Trump's stunning announcement came after Iran dismissed direct negotiations on a new deal to curb the country's nuclear programme, calling the idea pointless.
The US leader pulled out of the last deal in 2018, during his first presidency.
There has been widespread speculation that Israel, possibly with US help, might attack Iranian facilities if no new agreement is reached.
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