Last-ditch effort in Geneva to avert war between US, Iran wraps with ‘significant progress,’ Omani official says

U.S. and Iranian officers gathered for talks in Geneva on Thursday towards the backdrop of the biggest American army buildup within the Center East because the Iraq Warfare. The negotiations had been extensively seen as a last-ditch effort to forestall the standoff between Washington and Tehran from spiraling into conflict however produced no dramatic breakthrough.

In talks mediated by Oman, the U.S. delegation — led by particular envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — met with Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Aragchi. It marked the third spherical of deliberations between the 2 nations this month.

Although no deal was clinched, there was a suggestion of necessary advances having been made. Badr al-Busaidi, Oman’s international minister, stated in an announcement following the assembly that “vital progress” was made and talks “will resume quickly after consultations within the respective capitals.” He famous that discussions on a “technical stage” will happen subsequent week in Vienna.

Neither the White Home nor the management of Iran supplied any speedy remark.

Trump, throughout his State of the Union handle on Tuesday, stated Iran might avert battle by articulating what he referred to as the “secret phrases: ‘We are not looking for nuclear weapons ever.’” He insisted that his desire was to pursue diplomacy with Tehran, however has beforehand warned that “unhealthy issues” would occur if a brand new nuclear deal just isn’t achieved.

Analysts estimate that Trump’s buildup of forces within the area now represents almost half of all deployable U.S. airpower — a focus of army may not seen because the days of the 1991 Gulf Warfare or the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The armada consists of two plane provider strike teams, in addition to dozens of bombers and fighter jets.

But even on the obvious cusp of conflict, Iran has up to now refused to concede to U.S. calls for. “Our elementary convictions are crystal clear: Iran will in no way ever develop a nuclear weapon; neither will we Iranians ever forgo our proper to harness the dividends of peaceable nuclear know-how for our individuals,” the Islamic Republic’s international minister wrote in a submit on X.

Iran has vowed lethal retaliation if the U.S. assaults militarily, and its proxy teams in addition to the Taliban have pledged to affix the battle in its protection. Israel can be an apparent possible goal, however U.S. installations throughout the area would even be beneath risk.

Key Gulf allies, who’re involved {that a} confrontation might spiral right into a wider conflict, have stated the U.S. is not going to be allowed to make use of their airspace for army motion towards Iran.

Amongst American calls for, in response to officers, is an insistence that the Islamic Republic ought to destroy all three of its nuclear websites. This poses a seeming contradiction with Trump’s earlier and emphatic declaration that these services had been “fully and completely obliterated” by U.S. B-2 bombers throughout Operation Midnight Hammer final June.

The president made that assertion on the day of the operation, asserting that it could take years for Tehran to rebuild its program. Witkoff, nonetheless, stated in an interview with Fox Information final weekend that the Iranians at the moment are “per week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making materials.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has additionally argued that Iran’s reluctance to debate its growth of intercontinental ballistic missiles stays a major hole on the negotiating desk.

“The negotiations [on Thursday] shall be largely targeted on the nuclear program, and we hope progress will be made,” Rubio advised reporters Wednesday. “Nevertheless it’s additionally necessary to keep in mind that Iran refuses — refuses — to speak about ballistic missiles to us or to anybody, and that’s an enormous drawback.”