High-stakes nuclear talks between the United States and Iran have concluded in Geneva following what Oman’s Foreign Minister described as “significant progress,” although the prospects for a deal that could avert war remain unclear, the BBC reports, as cited by Rks News.
Badr Albusaidi, who acted as mediator, said technical-level discussions will continue next week in Vienna. There were no immediate comments from either U.S. or Iranian officials.
President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran if no agreement is reached, amid the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Meanwhile, Iran has vowed to respond forcefully to any attack.
While Trump has stated that he prefers to resolve the crisis through diplomacy, he has also said he is considering a limited strike on Iran to pressure its leadership into accepting a deal.
However, Trump has provided little detail on what exactly the U.S. is seeking in the negotiations and why military action might be necessary now, eight months after U.S. forces bombed Iranian nuclear facilities during a conflict between Israel and Iran.
Iran has rejected the U.S. demand to halt uranium enrichment on its territory but indications suggest it may have offered certain concessions regarding its nuclear program.
