US and Iran to hold talks as pressure for nuclear deal builds

The indirect negotiations are seen as a last-ditch effort to prevent a conflict, but the chances of a nuclear agreement are unclear.

The latest round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva concluded without a deal, leaving the risk of a broader Middle East conflict unresolved. Mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, the negotiations involved indirect discussions and lasted several hours. While Iran acknowledged 'intense and long' discussions, it rejected key U.S. demands, including halting uranium enrichment, transferring nuclear material abroad, and addressing issues like missile programs or support for militant groups. Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and demands the lifting of international sanctions.

The latest round of indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran took place in Geneva, mediated by Oman. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi with the objective of halting Iran’s uranium enrichment and long-range missile production. While no deal has been finalized, both sides described the negotiations as intense and constructive, and talks are expected to resume soon, including technical-level discussions in Vienna.

A new AP-NORC poll reveals that while many Americans view Iran's nuclear program as a significant threat, they also express low confidence in President Donald Trump’s judgment regarding the use of military force abroad. About 48% of U.S. adults are extremely or very concerned about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, a sentiment that has remained steady since mid-2025. Despite mounting tensions and U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, only about 3 in 10 Americans trust Trump’s decisions on military matters, adversarial relationships, or nuclear weapons, with over half expressing little or no trust.

Amid rising tensions ahead of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, Iran has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks, calling them 'big lies' and an attempt to manipulate public opinion. The U.S. has ramped up its military presence in the Middle East with its largest deployment in decades, aiming to pressure Iran into limiting its nuclear program. Trump claimed Iran is resuming its weapons program, while Tehran insists it remains peaceful. Iranian officials warned against deception and emphasized they are open to 'honorable diplomacy.'

In a private meeting, White House envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the Trump administration is insisting any future nuclear agreement with Iran must be permanent, eliminating the 'sunset provisions' found in the 2015 deal. These provisions allowed various limits on Iran's nuclear activities to phase out over 8 to 25 years. Witkoff emphasized that under the new stance, Iran must commit to non-nuclear behavior indefinitely. This position is a core sticking point in current negotiations, with Iran seeking to retain its right to enrich uranium domestically.

Iran and the United States are holding another round of indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday to try to reach a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program and potentially avert another war as the U.S. gathers a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East. U.S. 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.

Iran sees the chance of a good outcome from a third round of talks with the United States, its President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday, as a delegation left for Geneva for negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. A senior U.S. official said on Monday that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are slated to meet with the Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in Geneva on Thursday. The two countries resumed negotiations over the long-disputed nuclear programme earlier this month as the U.S. builds up its military capability in the Middle East ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic. Iran has threatened to strike U.S. bases in the region if it is attacked.