U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiators meet for 3 hours with Trump decision looming

"The third round of nuclear talks have been held in two formats: indirectly, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi relaying messages between the sides, and directly between the U.S. and Iranian negotiators. The Iranians presented their much-anticipated draft proposal for a nuclear deal. Al-Busaidi said during a break in the talks that 'we've been exchanging creative and positive ideas' and 'hope to make more progress.'"

"The U.S. came into the talks with a demand that Iran agree any future nuclear deal will remain in effect indefinitely. Another key U.S. demands were that Iran give up on its stockpile of 10,000kg of enriched uranium. The U.S. was willing to show a degree of flexibility on Iran's demand that it retain the right to enrich uranium, but only if Tehran could prove there was no path to a bomb."

"Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei wrote on X on Thursday as the talks were ongoing in Geneva that if this is the main issue for the U.S. it 'aligns' with Khamenei's Fatwa and Iran's defensive doctrine, 'and an immediate agreement is within reach.' 'Araghchi has sufficient support and authority for this deal,' Shamkhani wrote."

The third round of nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran took place in two formats: indirect communication through Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi and direct talks between American and Iranian negotiators. Iran presented its anticipated draft proposal for a nuclear deal. The IAEA director general participated in the discussions. The U.S. demanded Iran agree to an indefinite nuclear deal and surrender its 10,000kg enriched uranium stockpile, while showing flexibility on uranium enrichment rights if Iran could demonstrate no nuclear weapons pathway. Iran's senior adviser indicated that Iran's position aligns with Supreme Leader Khamenei's fatwa and defensive doctrine, suggesting an immediate agreement is achievable.

Read at Axios