US and Iranian delegations resumed indirect negotiations in Geneva on February 26, as the deadline for a deal on Tehran's nuclear program—set by President Trump—nears and could expire by the end of this week. The two delegations arrived separately at the Omani diplomatic residence by Lake Geneva for the talks.
The Omani Foreign Ministry released images of US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Bader al-Busaidi. The meeting aimed to discuss proposals from the Iranian side. The Omani Foreign Minister stated that both sides exchanged "creative and positive ideas" and would continue their work throughout the day.
Pressure from Washington
A week earlier, President Trump stated in Washington that a decision regarding Iran would be made within approximately ten days. In his State of the Union address on the evening of February 25, he warned that Iran is developing missiles capable of reaching US territory and emphasized that he has yet to receive a commitment from Tehran that it will not possess nuclear weapons.
Washington seeks to expand the scope of the negotiations to include Iran's ballistic missile program and human rights issues. However, Tehran has firmly refused to include these topics on the bargaining table.
Senior Advisor Ali Shamkhani wrote on X that if the focus remains on Iran not developing nuclear weapons, that position aligns with the Supreme Leader’s fatwa and Iran's defense doctrine, suggesting a deal could be reached quickly.
Parallel Military Deployments
While the negotiations were underway, President Trump deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been present in the Middle East since late January. Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford is moving from Crete toward the eastern Mediterranean.
The developments in Geneva are seen as a final opportunity to reach a consensus before Washington considers its next steps.
Source: Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Trump’s statements, Fox News.
