The Latest: Tense US-Iran talks in Geneva as Trump deploys warships and plane to the Middle East | EUROtoday

Iran and the United States are speaking in Geneva for a 3rd time on Thursday as President Donald Trump seeks to delay Tehran’s nuclear program whereas threatening it by deploying a large variety of plane and warships to the Middle East.

U.S. particular Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, a billionaire actual property developer and good friend of Trump, will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in an effort to persuade his nation to halt its enrichment of uranium, a key step to constructing a nuclear bomb, and curtail or cease its manufacturing of long-range missiles.

Iran has maintained that it’ll proceed to complement uranium at the same time as its program sits in ruins following a U.S. assault in June on three of its nuclear websites. If an American assault occurs, Iran has mentioned all U.S. army bases within the Mideast will thought of legit targets and has additionally threatened to assault Israel.

The newest spherical of negotiations is the third since Israel’s 12-day battle with Iran final yr, and their failure might once more result in a regional battle throughout the Middle East.

Here’s the most recent:

Omani minister says ‘creative and positive ideas’ have been exchanged

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the negotiations, mentioned the 2 sides have been exchanging “creative and positive ideas” and can resume talks after a break.

Al Busaidi mentioned he’s hopeful that extra progress may be made later Thursday when negotiations resume.

Convoys believed to be holding the Iranian and U.S. delegations left the Omani residence in Geneva after a number of hours of oblique negotiations beginning Thursday morning.

US diplomats seem to have departed from talks venue

A convoy believed to be carrying U.S. diplomats left an Omani diplomatic residence in Geneva that was internet hosting oblique talks with Iran over its nuclear program.

Iranian state tv reported Thursday that oblique talks with the United States will resume later within the day after each side take a break.

It wasn’t clear what the rationale for the break was. The two sides had been having oblique talks for hours mediated by Oman

Both the Iranian and the American delegations had been on the residence for hours.

Iranian advisor suggests ‘agreement is within reach’ if talks are centered

A outstanding advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader has steered that Iran might attain a direct settlement in talks with the U.S. in the event that they centered solely Iran’s dedication to not develop nuclear weapons.

“If the main issue of the negotiations is Iran’s non-development of nuclear weapons, this is consistent with the Supreme Leader’s fatwa (religious declaration) and Iran’s defense doctrine, and an immediate agreement is within reach,” Ali Shamkhani wrote on X on Thursday.

He added that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has “sufficient support and authority” to come back to a last settlement within the talks.

Shamkhani was wounded within the 12-day battle between Israel and Iran earlier this yr.

Oman says it offered Iran’s proposals to the US

Oman has offered Iran’s proposals to U.S. particular envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Thursday throughout the third spherical of nuclear negotiations going down in Geneva, the Omani Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

The ministry revealed a photograph of Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi with Witkoff and Kushner, signaling oblique talks are underway. The Foreign Ministry mentioned al-Busaidi went over the U.S. inquiries and requests concerning Iran’s nuclear program and the required ensures to realize a deal, and mentioned the talks have been persevering with in a “constructive” manner.

Indirect talks between Iran and the US underway in Geneva

Oman’s Foreign Ministry revealed photos of U.S. particular Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, assembly with Omani Foreign Minister Bader al-Busaidi.

The location gave the impression to be the Omani diplomatic residence in Geneva alongside the shores of Lake Geneva. An Associated Press journalist earlier noticed two convoys believed to be carrying Iranian and U.S. diplomats arrive there.

Iran and the U.S. are assembly in Geneva for nuclear negotiations, talks seen as a final probability for diplomacy as America has gathered a fleet of plane and warships to the Middle East to stress Tehran right into a deal.

Iran says talks will focus solely on nuclear subject

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei informed Iran’s State TV that negotiations, as in earlier rounds, will focus solely on the nuclear subject.

He added that the director normal of the International Atomic Energy Agency may be current, much like earlier negotiations. “Our positions are clear: the lifting of sanctions and the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” Baghaei mentioned.

Convoy believed to be carrying American diplomats enters Omani residence

A convoy believed to be carrying American diplomats arrived Thursday to the Omani residence in Geneva for oblique talks with Iran.

An Associated Press journalist noticed the convoy enter the compound.

Oman’s international minister talks Iran with worldwide nuclear company chief

Oman’s international minister met Thursday with the pinnacle of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Badr al-Busaidi’s assembly with Rafael Mariano Grossi of the IAEA comes as Iran and the United States maintain oblique negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry introduced the assembly, saying it got here as “part of consultations and the exchange of views on technical matters related to the Iranian nuclear dossier and the new ideas currently under negotiation between the Iranian and American sides.”

The IAEA didn’t instantly acknowledge the assembly. The IAEA is the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, which doubtless can be the inspectors each international locations would depend on in any doable deal.

US Sen. Lindsey Graham says he favors regime change

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a hardliner concerning U.S. coverage on Iran, insists Iran shouldn’t be allowed to complement uranium to any diploma, and mentioned he was in favor of regime change.

“If media reports are true that there is a consideration of allowing Iran to have very small enrichment of uranium for face-saving purposes: screw that,” the Republican senator mentioned in a publish on X late Wednesday.

Accusing Iran’s authorities of being “the largest state sponsor of terrorism,” the senator from South Carolina mentioned he “could care less about efforts to save face for this regime. I would like to see the people of Iran change the regime – it’s long overdue.”

Iranian international minister in interview forward talks says deal doable

Just earlier than leaving for the third spherical of nuclear negotiations with the United States, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed India Today on Wednesday that he believes a “fair, balanced, and equitable deal” is feasible based mostly on foundations constructed throughout the earlier talks. But he added that Iranians are approaching these talks with extra warning, after Israel launched an assault throughout U.S.-Iranian nuclear negotiations final June, and the U.S. additionally attacked a number of Iranian nuclear websites.

“The wounds of that aggression is still alive in our minds,” he mentioned. “This time, we are obviously more careful.”

Araghchi added that rumors Iran was creating a missile able to reaching the U.S. are “fake news” and that the nation had capped its missile capabilities at a distance of two,000 kilometers (1250 miles) for defensive functions solely.

He additionally harassed that Iran’s pink line is that it’ll not surrender its skill to complement uranium, which he mentioned the nation does for peaceable functions. Iran can supply everlasting “confidence” that its program is peaceable in trade for the full termination of sanctions, he mentioned.

American supercarrier leaves Greek port for Middle East waters

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest plane service, left an American naval base in southern Greece Thursday after a quick stopover of some days whereas on its solution to the Middle East, the place the U.S. has amassed a lot of warships and plane as pressure with Iran spikes.

Tugboats towed the plane service away from the Souda Bay naval base on the island of Crete as talks between Iran and the United States have been as a consequence of start in Geneva.

Iran’s president says spiritual chief would not need nukes

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran is not going to have nuclear weapons as a result of the nation’s spiritual chief has mentioned the nation doesn’t plan to pursue nuclear weapons. ““The religious leader of a society can’t lie,” Pezeshkian mentioned on state tv on Thursday in Sari, northern Iran, because the third spherical of nuclear negotiations with the U.S. are about to happen in Geneva. “When he announces that we won’t have nuclear weapons, it means we won’t. Even if I want to do that, I can’t, because of my beliefs.”

Oman’s foreign minister flashes a thumbs up

Oman’s foreign minister flashed a thumbs up to an Associated Press journalist on Thursday who shouted a question about whether he was hopeful about the talks.

Badr al-Busaidi was leaving a hotel in Geneva on Thursday morning. He sped away in a sedan guided by a police escort.

Oman says it has received Iranian proposals

Oman said Thursday it had received “views and proposals” from Iran on the continuing nuclear talks.

In an announcement on the state-run Oman News Agency, it mentioned Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi obtained the knowledge in a gathering with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Al-Busaidi “is expected to meet with the American negotiating team this morning to convey the Iranian perspective and, in turn, listen to the ideas and proposals put forward by the American side,” the company mentioned.

From there, additional oblique talks will happen.

Most Americans see Iran as an enemy however doubt Trump’s judgment on army drive, AP-NORC ballot finds

A brand new AP-NORC ballot discovered that many U.S. adults proceed to view Iran’s nuclear program as a risk, however few Americans have excessive belief in President Donald Trump’s judgment on using army drive overseas.

The survey was carried out Feb. 19-23, as army tensions constructed within the Middle East between the United States and Iran.

It discovered that about half of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” involved that Iran’s nuclear program poses a direct risk to the United States, however solely about one-quarter of Americans say they’ve excessive belief in Trump on relationships with adversaries or using army drive overseas.

Read extra right here.

Iranian international minister meets Omani counterpart

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi after arriving in Geneva on Wednesday night time. The males “reviewed the views and proposals that the Iranian side will present to reach an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, based on the guiding principles agreed upon in the previous round of negotiations,” a report from the state-run Oman News Agency mentioned.

Latest spherical of talks in Geneva beneath Omani mediation

These newest talks in Geneva are once more being mediated by Oman, a sultanate on the japanese fringe of the Arabian Peninsula that’s lengthy served as an middleman between Iran and the West.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran has to cease nuclear and missile packages

Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned simply forward of the talks that Iran is “always trying to rebuild elements” of its nuclear program. He mentioned that Tehran is just not enriching uranium proper now, “but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can.”

Rubio additionally informed reporters late Wednesday in St. Kitts, the place he was attending a regional summit with Caribbean leaders that Iran is “trying to achieve intercontinental ballistic missiles.”