Iran and the US are holding the third round of indirect talks in Geneva Thursday as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Tehran with a massive deployment of military aircraft and warships to the Middle East. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Iranian FM Araghchi meets Omani counterpart ahead of indirect talks
Iran’s official IRNA news agency reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi in Geveva on Wednesday night ahead of today’s talks.
Oman is mediating the indirect US-Iran talks in Switzerland.
Iran’s refusal to discuss missiles a ‘big, big problem’, Rubio says
On the eve of today’s high-stakes talks in Geneva, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday warned that Iran must negotiate on its missile programme.
“I would say that the Iranian insistence on not discussing ballistic missiles is a big, big problem,” Rubio told reporters on the eve of new talks between the United States and Iran.
Rubio, however, steered clear of describing if the talks in Geneva would be a make-or-break moment in deciding if the United States attacks Iran.
“The president wants diplomatic solutions. He prefers them greatly,” Rubio said.
As for the talks, “hopefully they’re productive, but eventually we’ll have to have conversations about more than just a nuclear program.”
On a potential strike on Iran, Rubio said: “The president’s made no decision on that, so I don’t know if Thursday’s the key date for that. I think progress needs to be made.”
Yesterday’s key developments:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday that Iran’s refusal to speak with the US about ballistic missiles is “a big problem”.
“Whatever they’re alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear programme, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’,” wrote Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on X.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had a “favourable outlook for the negotiations” that could finally “move beyond this ‘neither war nor peace’ situation”.
