US-Israel Strikes Halt Iran Nuclear Talks

In Geneva last month, promising nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran appeared on the verge of significant progress, only to be abruptly halted two days later when the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Tehran on February 28, 2026. Britain's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, attended the final round of indirect talks as an observer and assessed that Iran's proposals represented a breakthrough, though key differences persisted.

The discussions, held at Oman's ambassadorial residence in Cologny and mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, focused on curbing Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Sources familiar with the talks described Iran's offer as unexpectedly substantial. Tehran proposed downblending its 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision, committing to no future stockpiles, and agreeing to a three-to-five-year pause on domestic enrichment activities. In return, Iran sought the lifting of nearly 80 percent of U.S. economic sanctions, including the release of frozen assets in Qatar, and offered U.S. participation in a future civil...