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Iran and the United States appear to be on slightly different timelines for their next round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, with Tehran pointing to Thursday and Washington signaling Friday, as both sides work to keep a fragile diplomatic channel alive.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday he expected talks to resume on Thursday in Geneva, telling CBS News that the framework of a potential deal was taking shape. "I believe that when we meet, probably this Thursday in Geneva again, we can work on those elements and prepare a good text and come to a fast deal," he said.
The US side, however, indicated a different date. American negotiators are prepared to meet on Friday in Geneva, but only if Iran submits a detailed written proposal for a nuclear agreement within 48 hours, Axios reported, citing a senior US official. Reuters said it could not independently verify the report.
Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to be in Geneva on Feb. 27 if Iran delivers its draft early this week. "If Iran gives a draft proposal, the U.S. is ready to meet in Geneva on Friday in order to start detailed negotiations to see if we can get a nuclear deal," a senior US official told Axios.
The scheduling gap follows a round of talks in Geneva last Tuesday, during which Witkoff and Kushner asked Araghchi for a detailed written proposal from Iran within days. The US envoys told the Iranian foreign minister that President Donald Trump's position remains zero uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, though Washington would consider a plan with limited enrichment if Tehran can prove it blocks every path to a nuclear weapon.
Araghchi said Friday he would finish drafting the proposal over the weekend and deliver it once Iran's political leadership approves it. The Trump administration has also confirmed it may discuss the possibility of an interim agreement before a full deal is reached.
The diplomatic efforts are playing out under significant pressure. US officials told Axios the current talks are likely the last window Trump will offer before considering a large-scale US-Israeli military operation.
Senator Lindsey Graham urged the president on Saturday to disregard advisers counseling restraint, warning against "letting evil go unchecked." Trump's advisers say the president could order a strike at any time, though many on his team are currently recommending patience.
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