US-Iran talks deadlocked: risk of military scenario growing – Rezazadeh

Another round of talks between the United States and Iran on Tehran’s nuclear program was held in Geneva, and the meeting ended without an agreement. Despite statements by some officials about “progress,” the parties remain far from a compromise on key issues.

According to the publication, US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner insisted on the destruction of Iran’s three main nuclear facilities — in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — as well as the transfer of all enriched uranium stocks to the US. In addition, Washington is demanding an open-ended agreement without time limits, unlike the agreements concluded under the Barack Obama administration.

Iran, in turn, rejected the demand to transfer uranium stocks abroad, and also opposed a complete cessation of enrichment and dismantling of nuclear infrastructure. At the same time, Tehran has proposed compromise options - reducing the enrichment level from 60% to 1.5%, temporarily suspending enrichment, or creating an Arab-Iranian consortium for uranium processing.

International expert and first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, Ali Reza Rezazade, believes that the current stage of the negotiations is critical. “We see a fundamental clash of positions. The US seeks not just to limit the program, but to actually dismantle it. Iran, on the other hand, is trying to preserve key elements as a guarantee of sovereignty and a tool of deterrence,” he notes.

According to Rezazade, the increased US military presence in the region and Donald Trump’s tough rhetoric are creating additional pressure. “This is a classic strategy of negotiations through force. Washington is demonstrating readiness for an alternative scenario if diplomacy fails,” the expert emphasizes.

At the same time, he warns that the failure of the negotiations could have serious consequences for regional security. “If a compromise is not found, the issue of the Iranian nuclear program could move from the diplomatic to the military plane. And this is a completely different level of risks — not only for Iran, but for the entire Middle East,” Rezazade emphasizes.

In his opinion, the next technical consultations in Vienna will be decisive. “The parties still have room for maneuver, but time is running out. This could be the last chance to avoid escalation,” the expert summarizes.