US-Iran nuclear talks end without a deal as threat of war grows

 Mediators report that further talks are scheduled for next week; however, there is no clear indication that the two sides have made progress on the issue of uranium enrichment.

High-stakes US-Iran talks on Tehran’s nuclear program ended Thursday without a deal, while the White House considers a major military intervention in the Middle East. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as making "good progress," and Omani mediators expect technical-level negotiations to resume next week in Vienna. However, there is no clear sign of agreement on key issues like Iran’s uranium enrichment rights and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Despite this, Iranian and Omani mediators remain cautiously optimistic, likely aiming to prevent imminent US military strikes in the region.

 Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi described the talks as “one of our most intense and longest rounds of negotiations” and confirmed that further discussions would occur within a week. The indirect talks in Geneva took place in two sessions, with reports indicating that the US team, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, was disappointed by Iran’s proposals. Observers found the short duration of the second session concerning. Iranian officials strongly rejected US media reports suggesting that Iran would have to stop uranium enrichment and remove its highly enriched uranium stockpile from the country.

At one point during the talks, Steve Witkoff, the US envoy, had to abruptly pause his discussions with Iran’s Araghchi and travel across Geneva to meet with Ukrainian negotiators, which reportedly frustrated the Iranian team.

Omani mediators dismissed claims of a breakdown, saying new and creative ideas were being exchanged with unprecedented openness during the third round of indirect talks. The US demands permanent Iranian guarantees on uranium enrichment and inspection measures to ensure Tehran cannot develop a nuclear weapon, a goal Iran denies pursuing. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized Iran’s refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program, leading Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, to highlight inconsistencies in the US negotiating demands.

The talks are taking place amid an unprecedented US military buildup in the region, led by Trump, which includes two aircraft carrier strike groups, attack aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and submarines armed with Tomahawk missiles.

High-stakes US-Iran nuclear talks concluded on Thursday without a deal, amid rising fears of a potential military conflict. The White House is considering a major military operation in the Middle East, its largest in decades. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as "one of our most intense and longest rounds of negotiations," asserting "good progress" had been made, while Omani mediators expressed hope that technical-level negotiations would resume next week in Vienna. However, there is no clear evidence that the parties have moved closer on key issues, particularly Iran’s right to uranium enrichment and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The indirect talks in Geneva, led on the US side by special envoy Steve Witkoff, featured two sessions, with the second session notably brief, raising concerns among observers. Iranian officials rejected US media reports suggesting Iran would be forced to cease enrichment and remove its uranium stockpile. At one point, Witkoff interrupted talks to meet with Ukrainian negotiators, frustrating the Iranian delegation.

Omani mediators denied any breakdown, highlighting the exchange of new and creative ideas with unprecedented openness. The US demands permanent Iranian guarantees on uranium enrichment limits and inspection mechanisms to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, a goal Iran denies pursuing. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized Iran’s refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program, prompting Iranian complaints about inconsistencies in US demands.

The talks occur against the backdrop of an unprecedented US military buildup in the region under Trump, including two aircraft carrier strike groups, attack aircraft, refueling tankers, and missile-equipped submarines. Central to the negotiations is whether the US will seek to bar Iran from almost all uranium enrichment—a symbol of Iranian sovereignty previously conceded in the 2015 nuclear deal. Some enrichment disputes are postponed due to Trump’s claim that US strikes last June destroyed Iran’s main nuclear sites, though Iran has denied UN inspections of the damage.

Rubio noted that while Iran is not enriching uranium currently, it is seeking to regain that capability eventually. The situation remains tense with no clear resolution in sight.