President Trump’s desire to engage in negotiations is a turnabout from his first term, when he often derided former President Barack Obama for agreeing to a nuclear deal with Iran.

President Donald Trump said he wants to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. Trump's comments come after he directed the Treasury and State Departments to drive the Islamic Republic's oil exports to zero.

Decades of animosity between Iran and the United States are one of the main drivers of instability in the Middle East. Trump has previously taken a strong stand on Iran and particularly on a nuclear program which could lead to the development of atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear aims are peaceful.