Crucial nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran are slated to restart this Tuesday in Switzerland. The entire Middle East remains gripped by anxiety, bracing for a potential American military strike if these diplomatic efforts fail.
High-level US officials, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, are reportedly attending the Geneva talks on Tuesday. These figures have been central to Trump’s diplomatic initiatives, especially concerning the Middle East.
Speaking from Air Force One on Monday, President Trump confirmed his ‘indirect’ involvement in these ‘very important’ discussions. He underscored his belief that Iran desires a deal, eager to avoid the severe repercussions of a failure to negotiate.
Following his pledge last month to support Iranian anti-government protesters, President Trump has ordered a significant deployment of US forces, including two aircraft carriers, to the region. Human rights organizations report that Iranian authorities brutally suppressed these protests, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Currently, President Trump is pressuring Iran to agree to an immediate accord, or else face a potential military strike. Last week, he posted on social media that while he favored a deal, ‘if one could not be brokered, we will just have to see what the outcome will be.’
Nations throughout the region are increasingly concerned that a US attack, coupled with Iranian retaliation that could involve Israel, risks widespread destabilization across the Middle East. Such a conflict could gravely threaten American allies in the Arab world who currently host US troops.
Achieving a compromise to prevent military escalation remains highly uncertain. US officials insist that discussions with Iran must extend beyond nuclear concerns to include their ballistic missile program and their backing of proxy militias throughout the Middle East.
Despite Iran’s stated willingness to discuss its nuclear program, its leaders have demonstrated minimal flexibility on other critical points.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Switzerland on Monday to meet with Oman’s foreign minister. Oman previously facilitated an initial round of US-Iran negotiations this month. Araghchi stated on social media that he came to Geneva ‘with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal.’
He emphatically added, ‘What is not on the table: submission before threats.’
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s formidable security force, reportedly conducted a naval ‘war game’ in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Despite this defiant stance, the Iranian government faces immense pressure to reach an agreement. Its economy has been severely hampered by international sanctions, a key factor that fueled recent anti-government protests.
Previous attempts last year by US and Iranian officials to negotiate a deal – lifting sanctions for an end to nuclear enrichment – failed. This led to a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, sparked by an Israeli military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities.
American stealth bombers later joined the Israeli offensive, striking three Iranian nuclear sites. While President Trump initially claimed these bombings had obliterated Iran’s nuclear program, US intelligence reports later indicated the program was severely damaged, not entirely destroyed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently met President Trump in Washington, stated that Trump now believes Iran ‘must surely understand that they missed out last time’ by not demonstrating more flexibility in the 2025 negotiations.
Addressing American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem on Sunday evening, Netanyahu conveyed Trump’s conviction that ‘there is a serious probability that they won’t miss out this time.’
However, Netanyahu expressed deep skepticism regarding ‘any deal with Iran.’ He reiterated Israel’s demands: a complete ban on nuclear enrichment, strict controls on ballistic missiles, and an end to Iranian support for militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.