Iran is not agreeing to the negotiating table, which could lead to war.

Washington. While some agreements were reached during indirect talks between the US and Iran in Geneva on Tuesday regarding the Tehran nuclear program, differences remain. Commenting on the talks, US Vice President J.D. Vance said that while the two countries have reached agreement on many issues, Iran is not prepared to accept some of the red lines set by the President.

Indeed, following the talks in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement to state television, “Finally, we were able to reach broad consensus on some guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin work on a possible agreement.”

He described the talks as more constructive than the previous round and said that the two sides will now prepare drafts, which will be exchanged to determine the date for the third round. Foreign Minister Araghchi acknowledged that it would take time to resolve differences through discussions with Trump’s close associates and envoys.

Following Araghchi’s statement, US Vice President J.D. Vance said in an interview with Fox News that the talks went well in some areas, and they agreed to meet later. However, in other areas, it was clear that the president had set red lines that the Iranians were not yet willing to accept and act upon.

Vance stated, “The US wants Iran to end not only its nuclear program but also its ballistic missile program and its support for regional armed groups.”

He stressed that the US wants a diplomatic solution, but Trump has all options open. “The president has said we want to resolve this through dialogue and diplomatic negotiations, but the president has all options on the table,” Vance said.

He further stated that the decision on when diplomacy will end will be Trump’s. “We will continue, but the president reserves the right to say that diplomacy has reached its natural limits.” We hope this doesn’t happen, but if it does, it will be the President’s decision.

Khamenei’s Challenge
Meanwhile, during the talks, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, directly challenged the US. He stated that Iran has the capability to sink US warships deployed in the region. Shortly thereafter, Iranian media reported that the Strait of Hormuz was closed for several hours for a live-fire drill. This move came at a time when the US has deployed two aircraft carriers in the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, just 700 kilometers from the Iranian coast.

Iran Seeks Relief from Sanctions
Meanwhile, Iran has long sought relief from extensive US-imposed sanctions, including restrictions on the purchase of Iranian oil by other countries. Tehran has insisted that the talks remain limited to the nuclear issue, while the US wants to include other issues such as its ballistic missile program and support for regional armed groups.

Additionally, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that his country does not seek nuclear weapons and is ready for verification. “If anyone wants to confirm this, we are ready for such verification,” he said.

Following the Omani-mediated talks, Foreign Minister Bader al-Busaidi stated that both sides have made good progress, but he also cautioned that much work remains to be done.

It should be noted that in June last year, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, leading to a fierce 12-day conflict between the two countries. Following this, the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites. Western countries suspect Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at developing a bomb, which Tehran denies.