US and Iran to Resume Nuclear Talks Amid Trump's Mounting Military Threat
A last-ditch effort to reach a diplomatic solution to the longstanding nuclear dispute between the United States and Iran will begin on Thursday, as indirect talks resume in Geneva. This comes amid escalating military threats from former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly warned of potential strikes against Tehran.
Third Round of Indirect Talks in Geneva
US and Iranian officials will meet for a third round of indirect negotiations in Geneva on Thursday, seeking to resolve the decades-long stand-off over Iran's nuclear program. The talks follow discussions held last week and will be mediated by Oman's Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are set to attend the talks alongside Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi. Araqchi arrived in the Swiss city on Wednesday and met with his Omani counterpart ahead of the negotiations. Before departing Iran, Araqchi expressed optimism, stating that a "fair, balanced and equitable deal" was within reach.
He reiterated Iran's stance on maintaining its right to peaceful nuclear technology, which Washington views as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons. "A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority," Araqchi said in a statement on social media platform X.
Escalating Tensions and Military Threats
The renewed negotiations occur against a backdrop of heightened tensions. US Vice President JD Vance accused Iran on Wednesday of attempting to rebuild its nuclear program following US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites last June. "Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. That would be the ultimate military objective, if that's the route that Trump chose," Vance told Fox News.
Trump himself has intensified his rhetoric, briefly outlining his case for a possible attack on Iran during his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday. While expressing a preference for diplomacy, he warned that he would not allow Tehran to possess a nuclear weapon. Trump first threatened to bomb Iran last month amid a government crackdown on anti-government protests that resulted in thousands of deaths.
He cautioned that it would be a "very bad day" for Iran if no deal is reached, to which Iran has responded with threats to strike American bases in the region if attacked.
Sanctions and Regional Military Buildup
The Trump administration has been assembling a massive military force in the Middle East, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. In June last year, the US joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites, an action Trump claimed had "obliterated" the country's nuclear facilities.
Concurrently, the US Treasury Department unveiled sweeping sanctions targeting over 30 individuals, entities, and vessels accused of bankrolling Iran's oil exports, ballistic missile program, and weapons manufacturing network. These measures have exacerbated Iran's economic crisis, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei facing what is seen as the gravest challenge of his 36-year rule.
Key Issues and Concessions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Saint Kitts and Nevis, indicated that the Geneva talks would focus largely on Iran's nuclear program. He reiterated Washington's concerns over Tehran's ballistic missile activities, warning that Iran seeks to develop them into intercontinental-range weapons.
"Beyond just the nuclear program, they possess these conventional weapons that are solely designed to attack America and attack Americans if they so choose to do so... They already possess weapons that can reach much of Europe already now, as we speak," Rubio stated.
In response, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused the US of repeating "big lies" regarding its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and the number of protesters killed in the crackdown.
Tehran has reportedly offered fresh concessions in exchange for sanctions relief and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, aiming to avert a US attack. However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the two sides remain deeply divided, particularly over the scope and sequencing of relief from crippling US sanctions.
International Oversight and Future Prospects
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, is expected to be in Geneva during the talks for discussions with both sides, as he did last week. His presence underscores the international community's concern over the nuclear dispute.
Trump has set a tight deadline, warning on February 19 that Iran must make a deal within 10-15 days or face "really bad things." This ultimatum adds pressure to the negotiations, which are seen as a critical opportunity to de-escalate tensions and find a diplomatic resolution to one of the world's most volatile stand-offs.
