2 months ago
1
An Iranian delegation headed by its apical diplomat arrived successful Geneva connected Wednesday (February 25, 2026) for talks with the U.S., arsenic the Islamic republic's president struck an upbeat code astir the imaginable for a negotiated statement to avert caller conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened strikes if Iran fails to chopped a woody connected its atomic programme, and successful his State of the Union code connected Tuesday (February 24), the U.S. President accused Tehran of "sinister atomic ambitions" aft helium ordered a monolithic subject deployment astir the Gulf.
Piling connected the pressure, the U.S. announced caller sanctions targeting Iran connected Wednesday arsenic Vice President J.D. Vance warned Tehran to instrumentality Washington's threats of subject enactment "seriously".
But Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that helium had a "favourable outlook for the negotiations".
"We are continuing the process nether the guidance of the ultimate person truthful that we tin determination beyond this 'neither warfare nor peace' situation," Pezeshkian said successful a speech.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his negotiating squad arrived successful the Swiss metropolis of Geneva connected Wednesday (February 25, 2026) for the crunch talks to beryllium held the pursuing day, Iran's authorities said.
The delegation is scheduled to conscionable with Oman's overseas curate aboriginal Wednesday evening "to contiguous Iran's presumption connected the lifting of sanctions and the atomic issue", Iran's overseas ministry said successful a statement.
Mr. Trump successful his code said that Iran was "at this infinitesimal again pursuing their sinister atomic ambitions". But Iranian overseas ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei refuted those claims arsenic "simply the repetition of 'big lies'".
'Maximum pressure'
The West believes Iran is seeking an atomic bomb, but Tehran insists its atomic programme is peaceful.
"My penchant is to lick this occupation done diplomacy but 1 happening is certain: I volition ne'er let the world's fig 1 sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to person a atomic weapon," Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Vance said Mr. Trump has "a fig of different tools astatine his disposal to ensure" that Iran does not make atomic weapons.
"He's shown a willingness to usage them, and I anticipation the Iranians instrumentality it earnestly successful the negotiations tomorrow," the vice-president told Fox News.
The U.S. Treasury Department besides announced caller sanctions targeting much than 30 individuals, entities, and vessels said to beryllium enabling "illicit Iranian petroleum sales" and weapons production.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump medication volition proceed to propulsion for "maximum unit connected Iran to people the regime's weapons capabilities and enactment for terrorism".
Iran and the U.S. held 5 rounds of atomic talks past year, but those negotiations ended aft Israel's unprecedented onslaught connected Iran triggered a 12-day warfare that Washington concisely joined.
During his archetypal term, Mr. Trump withdrew from a landmark 2015 woody which offered Tehran sanctions alleviation successful instrumentality for drastic curbs connected Iran's atomic programme.
'People are suffering'
In caller weeks Trump has deployed 2 craft bearer groups and dozens of different warplanes to the portion to backmost up his threats, and Iran has repeatedly said it would respond firmly to immoderate attack, adjacent a constricted one.
Tehran residents who spoke to AFP on Wednesday were divided arsenic to whether determination would beryllium renewed conflict.
Some said warfare was each but inevitable, portion 1 salesman who gave his sanction arsenic Mehdi predicted the negotiations would succeed, saying: "The Americans are bluffing."
Homemaker Tayebeh noted that Mr. Trump had "said that warfare would beryllium precise atrocious for Iran".
"There would beryllium famine and radical would endure a lot. People are suffering now, but astatine slightest with war, our destiny mightiness beryllium clear," she added.
Emile Hokayem, elder chap for West Asia information astatine the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the immense subject outlay carried a governmental outgo for Mr. Trump.
"It looks similar President Trump has cornered himself," Hokayem said, adding the US person whitethorn person predicted the "Iranians would cave quickly", which they person yet to do.
"At this point, the unit posture is specified that if the US were to propulsion backmost without (an agreement), it could travel astatine the credibility of the president himself."
