President Trump said Monday that the U.S. and Iran had started direct talks on Tehran’s nuclear program.

“We’re dealing with the Iranians. We have a very big meeting on Saturday, and we’re dealing with them directly,” Mr. Trump told reporters during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“A lot of people say, ‘Oh, maybe you’re going through surrogates, or you’re not dealing directly. You’re dealing through other countries.’ No, we’re dealing with them directly,” he said.

The president said that the talks cannot fail because Iran will be in “great danger” and “can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

Mr. Trump’s announcement came as a surprise after Iranian officials seemed to reject U.S. calls for such talks over the weekend.

Iran had pushed back against Mr. Trump’s requirements that it directly negotiate over its nuclear program or be bombed. However, it had initially allowed for indirect discussions.

Mr. Trump said, “Maybe a deal is going to be made. That’d be great. It would be really great for Iran. I can tell you that.”

The president said he would favor a deal over Iran’s nuclear program to a military conflict, noting that on March 7 he had written to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to suggest talks.

Iranian officials said at the time that Tehran would not be forced into negotiations.

During his first term, Mr. Trump withdrew the U.S. from a 2015 agreement between Iran and other world powers that placed limits on Iran’s nuclear actions in exchange for lifting sanctions. Mr. Trump reimposed these sanctions.

• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.