Representatives of the US and Iran will meet in Geneva today to negotiate an agreement on the nuclear dispute. One thing is certain: the indirect talks are being organized against the backdrop of a serious military threat from Washington, "Spiegel" points out, BTA writes in its press review.
Shortly before the start of indirect talks between the US and Iran on the ongoing nuclear dispute, both sides are betting on mutual intimidation. The US armed forces have significantly increased their air and naval forces in the Middle East, as reported, among other things, by CNN. The troops are deployed both to intimidate Tehran and as an option for attacking the country in the event of a breakdown in nuclear talks: this was stated to the television channel by several sources familiar with the matter.
The BBC, for its part, notes that based on satellite images it has established the position of the aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln" near Iran. The aircraft carrier was sent to the Persian Gulf region at the end of January, but has not been spotted on satellite images so far. According to the BBC, "Abraham Lincoln" is located off the coast of Oman, about 700 kilometers from Iran.
The Geneva talks also concern, among other things, Iran's controversial nuclear program. The United States wants to prevent the leadership in Tehran from producing nuclear weapons. The Iranian government has shown willingness to limit its nuclear program, but in return demands the lifting of strict economic sanctions. The Islamic Republic is unwilling to discuss other topics raised by the US, such as reducing its missile arsenal or ending support for militant groups in the region, Der Spiegel notes.
"We are negotiating in conditions of complete skepticism and mistrust. "We have past experience and under no circumstances should we lose sight of that experience even for a moment," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, referring to last year's war that Israel launched shortly before a round of talks between Tehran and Washington began, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.
Nuclear talks between the United States and Iran are set to resume in Switzerland today, as the Middle East remains on high alert over the possibility of a US attack if the talks fail, the New York Times reported.
Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, are expected to attend the talks in Geneva to discuss sensitive diplomatic issues.
Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One yesterday, said he would participate "indirectly" in the negotiations and that they will be "very important". He stressed that Iran wants to conclude an agreement because it would be undesirable for the Islamic Republic to experience the consequences of the failure of the negotiations, the "New York Times" pointed out.
The newspaper recalls that Trump ordered an increase in the US military presence in the region – including two aircraft carriers – after last month promising to support anti-government protests in Iran. The government in the Islamic Republic subsequently suppressed the demonstrations with violence, in which thousands of people died.
The US president is calling on Iran to reach an agreement immediately, otherwise Tehran will face the threat of a possible attack. Last week, Trump wrote on social media that he preferred a deal with Iran, but if one cannot be reached, "we will just have to see what the outcome is".
Middle Eastern countries fear that a possible American strike and Iranian retaliation, which could be directed against Israel, could destabilize the region and threaten US allies in the Arab world, on whose territory there are bases with American soldiers.
It is still unclear whether Iran and the United States will be able to reach a compromise that would prevent an escalation of hostilities, notes the "New York Times".
According to the "Washington Post" Trump now believes that Iran "certainly needs to understand that it missed its chance last time" by not showing more flexibility in the 2025 negotiations, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met with the US president last week in Washington.
"He believes there is a strong possibility that this time they will not miss their chance," Netanyahu said Sunday night in Jerusalem, addressing a group of American Jewish leaders. But Netanyahu noted that he was very skeptical about "any deal with Iran." He added that Israel demands that any agreement include a ban on uranium enrichment, strict restrictions on ballistic missiles and an end to Iranian support for militias such as "Hamas" and "Hezbollah".