海角大神

Progress but not compromise as latest US-Iran nuclear talks end

A second round of talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on Tuesday over Tehran鈥檚 nuclear program yielded agreement on 鈥済uiding principles,鈥� according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. But there were few signs of compromise from either side.

Mr. Araghchi said 鈥渢he path for a deal has started,鈥� and that draft proposals would be exchanged before setting a date for a third round.

A U.S. official said: 鈥淧rogress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss.鈥� The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Iran would provide detailed proposals within two weeks to address 鈥渙pen gaps in our positions.鈥�

Yet the talks are taking place in the shadow of recent events that have raised tensions and renewed the prospects of conflict, as both sides voice demands unacceptable to the other.

Iran wants to limit talks only to curbing its nuclear program, in exchange for lifting American sanctions that have throttled its economy.

President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants Iran鈥檚 remaining nuclear program dismantled, as well as 鈥� in an echo of Israeli demands 鈥� limits on the range of Iran鈥檚 missile arsenal, and ending Iran鈥檚 support for regional militia allies such as Hezbollah.

Mr. Trump said last week that regime change in Iran is 鈥渢he best thing that could happen,鈥� and that the Islamic Republic would regret not making a deal.

But Iran says American terms amount to surrender. Mr. Araghchi, before the Geneva talks, said he brought 鈥渞eal ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal. What is not on the table: submission before threats.鈥�

Iran鈥檚 supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Tuesday that his country鈥檚 missile program was non-negotiable.

鈥淧ossessing deterrent weapons is necessary and obligatory for a nation,鈥� Mr. Khamenei said. 鈥淭he Americans illogically say you should not have this type of missile or that range, while this matter concerns the Iranian nation and has nothing to do with them.鈥�

Iran is still reeling from a lethal crackdown by regime security forces against street protests in January that left more than 7,000 people dead, according to activists.

Mr. Trump promised to 鈥渉it very hard鈥� if protesters were killed, and has sought to raise pressure for a deal by amassing a naval armada aimed at Iran, which includes two aircraft carrier battle groups and air assets throughout the region.

Mr. Khamenei dismissed the U.S. threat, and suggested a severe Iranian response: 鈥淭hey keep saying, 鈥榃e have sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran.鈥� Fine 鈥� an aircraft carrier is certainly a dangerous piece of equipment. But more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon capable of sending it to the bottom of the sea.鈥�

Over the past two years, Iran has seen its power eroded. Israel last June launched a surprise air campaign against Iran that lasted 12 days, and saw multiple waves of Iranian missiles fired at Israel in response. U.S. stealth bombers joined the battle to strike Iran鈥檚 deeply buried nuclear facilities.

In Geneva, the U.S. team was led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump鈥檚 son-in-law. The indirect meeting 鈥� at which the American and Iranian delegations sat in separate rooms, while Omani officials mediated 鈥� lasted less than two hours.

In contrast, the string of complex negotiations that led to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with world powers required 2 1/2 years of talks. Mr. Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from that deal in 2018, though Iran had until then adhered to its strict limits.