Iran and the United States met on Thursday in Geneva for nuclear negotiations viewed as a last chance for diplomacy.
US President Donald Trump wants a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests last month. Iran meanwhile has maintained it wants to continue to enrich uranium even as its program sits in ruins, following Trump ordering an attack in June on three of Iran's nuclear sites, part of a bruising 12-day war last year.
The nuclear talks are viewed as a last chance for diplomacy as America has gathered a fleet of aircraft and warships to the Middle East to pressure Tehran into a deal.
If an American attack happens, Iran has said all US military bases in the Mideast would be considered legitimate targets, putting at risk tens of thousands of American service members. Iran has also threatened to attack Israel, meaning a regional war again could erupt across the Middle East.
“There would be no victory for anybody — it would be a devastating war,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told India Today in an interview filmed Wednesday just before he flew to Geneva.
“Since the Americans' bases are scattered through different places in the region, then unfortunately perhaps the whole region would be engaged and be involved, so it is a very terrible scenario.”
Oman’s Foreign Ministry published on Thursday images of US special Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.
The location appeared to be the Omani diplomatic residence in Geneva along the shores of Lake Geneva.
Araghchi met al-Busaidi after arriving in Geneva on Wednesday night. The men “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 said.
Al-Busaidi will pass on Iran's offer to American officials on Thursday, it added.
