A high-stakes diplomatic gamble unfolded in Switzerland on Thursday as President Donald Trump’s personal envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, held more than three hours of intensive negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The marathon session, described by officials as a potential “last chance” for a diplomatic solution, comes as the White House weighs the possibility of military action against Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
The talks followed a dual-track format. While Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi acted as a formal mediator relaying messages, sources indicate that direct discussions also took place between the American and Iranian delegations. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi was also present to oversee the technical viability of the proposals.
The urgency of the meeting was underscored by President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
While the President stated a preference for a diplomatic breakthrough, he also used the speech to lay out a case for war, criticizing Iran’s “sinister ambitions” and demanding a permanent renunciation of nuclear weapons.
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The report Kushner and Witkoff deliver to the Oval Office following these sessions is expected to be the deciding factor in whether the U.S. continues on a path of negotiation or shifts toward a military strike.
During the session, the Iranian delegation presented a much-anticipated draft proposal for a new nuclear deal. In response, the U.S. envoys brought a set of strict demands, primarily that any new agreement must remain in effect indefinitely—avoiding the “sunset clauses” of previous deals. Washington is also demanding that Iran surrender its entire stockpile of 10,000kg of enriched uranium.
While the U.S. has signaled some flexibility regarding Iran’s demand to retain domestic enrichment capabilities, that concession is strictly contingent on Tehran proving there is no viable path to a nuclear bomb.
“We have been exchanging creative and positive ideas,” Minister al-Busaidi told reporters during a break in the afternoon. “We hope to make more progress when the talks resume later today.”
A significant shift in tone appeared to come from Tehran as the meetings progressed. Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, posted on social media that if the U.S. simply requires a clear commitment against nuclear weapons, an “immediate agreement is within reach.”
Shamkhani noted that such a pledge aligns with Khamenei’s existing religious fatwa against nuclear arms and confirmed that Foreign Minister Araghchi has the “sufficient support and authority” to finalize a deal.
Despite the optimistic language from some mediators, the backdrop remains tense. The U.S. continues to maintain a massive naval presence in the region, and the outcome of the evening sessions in Geneva will likely determine if those forces are used or withdrawn.
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