WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - New high stakes talks are taking place between the United States and Iran as the two try to negotiate a nuclear weapons deal.  Leaders from both countries had an initial meeting in Oman on Saturday and are planning for another round of talks this weekend.  On Monday Pr esident Trump talked about how Iran is dangerously close to having a nuclear weapon.  "These are radicalized people, they cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump said. He also expressed concern that things aren't progressing quickly enough.  "I think they're tapping us along," Trump said.  There's fear the situation could escalate into a full blown war in the Middle East, making the talks that much more consequential.  Dr. Sina Azodi is an expert on U.S. Iranian Relations with George Washington University. He says it's a good sign that both sides have described the recent talks as productive.   "I think we should be cautiously optimistic," Azodi said.  He also thinks its positive that they're planning for another meeting.  "Which means that there has been some progress on hammering out some sort of a framework to make sure that Iran does not go for the bomb," Azodi said.  As those talks progress President Trump is warning Iran it won't be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.  "They're not going to have one and if we have to do something very harsh, we'll do it," Trump said.  Dr. Azodi argues threats of force could be counterproductive, but gives President Trump credit for previously preventing conflict with Iran.  "While we shouldn't discount the possibility, I don't think he's interested in leading the United States to war," Azodi said.  Though he adds in order for any deal to last, both countries would have to benefit.  "Every agreement involves reciprocal concessions from both sides," Azodi said.  The U.S. could offer Iran economic sanctions relief like it did in the 2015 nuclear deal.  ...read more read less