US Vice President JD Vance assured in an interview with the Washington Post that there is "no possibility" of a long-term military confrontation between the US and Iran, without however ruling out new air strikes, at a time when the third round of indirect negotiations in Geneva ended without an agreement.
“The idea that we’re going to be in a war in the Middle East for years, with no end in sight, there’s no way that’s going to happen,” Mr. Vance told the Washington Post. He also noted that “I think we all prefer the diplomatic option,” adding that developments would depend “really on what the Iranians do and say.” On Thursday, Trump administration envoys held a third round of indirect talks with Tehran in Geneva, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman. The Islamic Republic’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, spoke via X about the “most intense” talks “to date,” referring to “further progress.”
Without agreement, with new technical contacts
Despite claims of progress, the latest round of talks in Geneva ended without an agreement. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner set as key conditions the destruction of Iran's three main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, as well as the handover of all remaining enriched uranium to the US.
Washington is seeking a new permanent agreement, without termination clauses like the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which Donald Trump withdrew the US during his first term, reinstating harsh sanctions.
Tehran has rejected the proposal to transfer its uranium stockpile abroad and has opposed halting enrichment, dismantling facilities or imposing permanent restrictions. At the same time, it insists on its right to enrich uranium, proposing alternatives such as reducing the level from 60% to 1.5% or a temporary suspension.
Escalation of pressure and military presence
The US demands came days after Donald Trump's speech to Congress in which he accused Iran of trying to produce nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, charges that Tehran denies. The US president has threatened military action if talks fail. Militarily, the US has significantly increased its air presence in the region, deploying tanker aircraft, A-10 attack aircraft and two aircraft carriers, in one of the largest force buildups since 2003.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "I'm not going to speculate on how close they are, but it's clear they are trying to produce intercontinental ballistic missiles," adding that Iran's refusal to discuss its ballistic program is a "big, big problem."
Inside the US, Republican lawmakers are expressing reservations about a potential deal that would allow limited enrichment. Senator Lindsey Graham said that “if Iran is considering allowing even a very small amount of enrichment to maintain the claim, then no deal.”
Sanctions relief also remains a sticking point. The US is reportedly offering limited relief, while Tehran is seeking substantial relief for its economy. The talks in Geneva focused largely on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, while technical negotiations are expected to continue in Vienna next week.
