Where things stand now
• Iran talks: US and Iranian delegations sat down in Geneva, Switzerland for another round of negotiations today to address Iran’s nuclear program amid a huge US military buildup in the Middle East. The talks have paused, but an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said an “immediate agreement” could be within reach if talks are confined to Iran’s “non-production of nuclear weapons.”
• Ukraine talks: US negotiators are also meeting now with Ukrainian officials today, with a “prosperity package” for the reconstruction of Ukraine set to be discussed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
• Clinton depositions: Back in the US, Bill and Hillary Clinton are facing a legal showdown with House Republicans as they prepare to testify behind closed doors in a congressional investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clinton will appear today, and the former president will appear tomorrow.
US-Iran talks have focused on bridging gaps on nuclear enrichment
Crunch nuclear talks in Geneva between the United States and Iran have centered on the thorny issue of Tehran’s nuclear enrichment and trying to determine whether proposals offered by the Iranians would satisfy President Donald Trump’s demand the country never obtain a nuclear weapon, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The US, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, entered the talks with some firm demands: that Iran dismantle its primary nuclear facilities and that any agreement to halt nuclear enrichment last in perpetuity.
The Iranians, meanwhile, were expected to offer a proposal that would suspend nuclear enrichment for a period of three to five years — until after President Trump leaves office — before joining a regional consortium for low-level, non-weapons grade enrichment, one of the people said. As part of a deal, Iran would allow international inspectors to monitor its compliance.
It wasn’t clear if the two sides’ positions would be close enough to continue the diplomatic discussions, or whether Trump would turn toward his other option: ordering new strikes on Iran.
Entering the talks, US officials said they were still unclear where Iran stood on a number of positions, and some questioned whether Iran’s supreme leader, who has ultimate sign-off, would agree to the terms — even if his negotiators seemed more willing to negotiate.
Iranian officials are aware that any deal must allow Trump to claim victory — and be able to boast the deal is stronger than the Obama-era nuclear deal he abandoned. As part of those calculations, they have publicly floated economic agreements that would allow US access to oil and gas, and commitments by Iran to buy American goods.
While the US-Iran delegations take a break, catch up on where the talks stand
Crucial talks between Washington and Tehran in Geneva, Switzerland, have been adjourned for a break and will resume “later today,” Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said a short while ago.
Negotiators have been “exchanging creative and positive ideas,” Albusaidi said, adding that he hopes more progress will be made. The talks are aiming to address Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of sanctions relief amid a huge US military buildup in the region.
Here’s what we know about today’s busy day of diplomacy in Switzerland:
Media buzz: A CNN team on the ground described a major media buzz outside the Omani ambassador‘s residence, where today’s talks are happening. Police had formed a wide cordon around the residential house right by Lake Geneva.
Red lines: An analyst from the International Crisis Group told CNN Iran and the US must agree to “soften their red lines” in order to reach a breakthrough and decrease the risk of war. Another analyst cast doubt on the likelihood of a nuclear agreement.
Khamenei adviser touts optimism: Meanwhile, a key adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said an “immediate agreement” between Washington and Tehran could be within reach if the subject of talks is confined to Iran’s “non-production of nuclear weapons.”
“Unprecedented openness”: Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said ahead of today’s talks that negotiators were demonstrating “unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas.” Oman is mediating the latest round of talks.
Iranians speak out: CNN spoke to people in Iran about how they’re feeling as tensions persist between the two nations. Some said their hope is fading as domestic conditions worsen.
Ukraine talks begin: Moments after the US-Iran talks were adjourned, the US delegation left the Omani ambassador’s residence and traveled to meet a Ukrainian delegation for bilateral negotiations. A “prosperity package” for the reconstruction of Ukraine is set to be discussed.
CNN’s Charlotte Reck, Lauren Kent and Frederik Pleitgen contributed reporting.
US-Ukraine talks start in Geneva, Kyiv's negotiator says
Talks between Ukrainian and US delegations in Geneva, Switzerland, have begun, according to Kyiv’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov.
Learn more about today’s talks in the clip below:
US-Iran talks in Geneva "pause" for consultations, Iranian state-affiliated media says
Today’s indirect talks between the United States and Iran have paused for “delegation consultations” and will resume this afternoon, according to Iranian state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.
A CNN team on the ground saw the US delegation leaving the Omani ambassador’s residence in Geneva, Switzerland, a short while ago.
Iran sees an uncomfortable parallel in Trump's actions in Venezuela
The United States’ January military operation in Venezuela – 7,000 miles away from Iran – has loomed large in the Islamic Republic, and will likely be front-of-mind for Iranian negotiators as indirect talks continue.
Striking parallels between the Venezuelan and Iranian regimes, both oil-rich nations that have positioned themselves as anti-imperialist adversaries of the US, have led many observers to question whether Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could face a similar fate to Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
Iran, like Venezuela, has long faced crippling US sanctions, and US President Donald Trump slapped more sanctions on the regime this week as he ramps up his “maximum pressure” campaign. The US administration has moved more military assets to the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers.
Experts have previously told CNN that Iran is facing a “triple-crisis” amid an economic crisis, political dissent and now immense external pressure from the US. But unlike Caracas, analysts say Tehran may be better prepared to withstand that pressure.
The leadership of the Islamic Republic has long warned that the ultimate goal of Western powers is to topple it. Iran has intensified its crackdown on dissent and protests amid concerns that a conflict could trigger American-instigated regime change.
Meanwhile, Iran has spent years building up its military capabilities. Two US officials told CNN earlier that Tehran’s capabilities, even if outnumbered and much older than modern US systems, make a decisive strike on the country far more difficult.
Read more about Iran’s military preparations here.
US and Iran must compromise on "maximalist demands," analyst says
Iran’s robust nuclear knowledge is a concern for the United States, but compromises must be made for the sake of the two nations and the wider Middle East region, according to a geopolitics analyst.
Columnist Bobby Ghosh told CNN’s Audie Cornish that a pathway to an agreement is possible, but has to sit “somewhere in the middle of the maximalist demands” proposed by each side.
While US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that his hard line for a potential agreement is the dissolution of Iran’s nuclear program, Ghosh argued that the president should soften on this demand. “The truth is, they (Iran) already have created a lot of nuclear material,” Ghosh said.
“They already have the know-how to do that, they can restart that program further down the line at any time, and that’s something any American administration, not just this one, has to take on board and has to be concerned about,” he added.
The expert noted that if today’s indirect talks in Geneva fail and the nations leave without a deal, Iran and its neighbors face uncertainty, “But the fact remains that Iran does have enormous potential to do damage even without a nuclear weapon or a nuclear program,” he explained.
“The region, the countries around Iran, are concerned about that. They would like there to be a diplomatic outcome,” Ghosh added.
Negotiators showing "unprecedented openness" in US-Iran talks, Oman's foreign minister says
Indirect talks between the United States and Iran are taking place in a “constructive spirit,” with negotiators demonstrating “unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas,” Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said.
His comments were posted on X this morning by the Omani foreign ministry before the latest round of high-stakes talks in Geneva kicked off with Omani mediation.
Ahead of today’s negotiations, the minister held a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Geneva.
“The meeting addressed a review of the Iranian side’s perspectives and proposals, along with the responses and inquiries from the American negotiating team,” the X post said.
Iran adviser says deal with the US within reach if talks stay confined to nuclear file
A key adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that an “immediate agreement” between the United States and Iran could be within reach if the subject of talks is confined to Iran’s “non-production of nuclear weapons.”
Shamkhani, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is in Geneva, has “sufficient support and authority to conclude such an agreement.”
Remember: US President Donald Trump says Iran should not be allowed to enrich any uranium. Iran says that is its right, and insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
Learn more about today’s talks in the clip below:
“We just need action.” CNN speaks to Iranians as US talks resume
As indirect talks between the United States and Iran continue in Geneva, we’ve been hearing from Iranians about how they’re feeling as tensions persist between the two nations.
“We just need action,” he added.
Desperation in Iran is growing amid food and water shortages and grinding economic conditions. Reza, 27, who is also only providing his first name, said he feels “stuck between a rock and a hard place,” while adding that Iranians “can’t just keep waiting for change.”
Others spoke of their fading hope amid worsening domestic conditions.
Fact-checking Trump's SOTU claims about Iran
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump made several false or inaccurate claims about the recent protests in Iran and Iran’s nuclear program.
On protests: Trump claimed Iranian authorities had killed “it looks like 32,000 protesters.” However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported far lower figures of verified deaths, saying at least 6,490 protesters had been killed since mass demonstrations erupted in late December. CNN cannot independently verify HRANA’s figures.
Meanwhile, Iran claims 3,117 people died during the unrest, including about 200 officers.
On Iran’s nuclear program: In his speech, Trump said he is amassing US military assets around Iran to ensure the country does not obtain a nuclear weapon. “They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
Iran, in fact, has repeatedly stated that it isn’t pursuing a nuclear bomb. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on Tuesday, just hours before Trump’s address, that Tehran “will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon.”
Many world leaders, including Trump, remain skeptical of Iran’s nuclear intentions. But Trump’s claim referred specifically to whether Iran has publicly made such a declaration.
On Iran’s long-range weapons: Trump also said that Iran has “already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.”
It’s correct that there are major US military installations in the Middle East – in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait – that could be threatened by Iran’s ballistic missiles. But Iran is not known to have or be developing intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach Western Europe or the United States.
Following Trump’s speech, Iran’s foreign minister dismissed the claims that Tehran is developing missiles capable of reaching the United States, calling that “fake news” and saying Iran has intentionally limited the range of its missiles to below 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles), for deterrence and self-defense. It used some of those missiles against Israel after Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran in the summer.
This is the largest US military buildup in the Middle East since the Iraq war. Here's what to know
It’s not clear whether US President Donald Trump has decided to pursue military action against Iran or allow more time for diplomacy. He said this week that Iran wants to make a deal to avoid a possible US military strike.
But how is the US preparing if Trump decides to push ahead with the military option?
The US has assembled a significant array of weapons systems in the Middle East amid diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, deploying ships and aircraft to nearby waters and to US bases across the region.
It is the largest American military buildup in the Middle East since the Iraq war of 2003.
Most of the forces ordered to the region as part of Trump’s escalating pressure campaign against Iran’s leadership have already been moved into place, such as the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group which was moved from the Pacific and arrived in the Arabian Sea last month.
At least 18 US F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters are stationed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in northern Jordan. Find out more about the buildup here.
Trump, meanwhile, says he would rather make a deal with Iran.
US-Iran nuclear deal "doubtful" and may not be enough to stop military action, analyst says
US-Iran tensions may continue to escalate as an agreement appears “doubtful,” CNN’s Political and National Security Analyst said ahead of today’s talks.
“The first question is, even if they reach an agreement on the nuclear issues, which seems a little doubtful, would that be enough to forestall military action?” David Sanger told CNN’s Elex Michaelson.
Sanger noted that US President Donald Trump detailed his four main grievances with Iran in his State of the Union address on Tuesday: its nuclear program, its missile program, its mistreatment of protesters during recent anti-government demonstrations, and its support for regional militant groups including Hezbollah and Hamas.
“But it’s the nuclear issue that the president always … returns to,” Sanger observed.
Sanger outlined the impasse on Iran’s nuclear development, raising a major question: “Is there a space between the American demand that there be zero enrichment going on … versus the Iranian argument that while they’re willing to suspend some of that for a while, they will not give up their right to enrich under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.”
What is Oman's role in the indirect US-Iran talks?
The talks on Iran’s nuclear program are indirect – mediated by Oman rather than involving face-to-face contacts between the US and Iranian delegations.
Unlike many of its Gulf Arab neighbors, Oman has maintained cordial ties with both Washington and Tehran, enabling it to serve as an intermediary for more than a decade. Muscat helped broker secret backchannel talks in 2011 that paved the way to the 2015 nuclear deal, from which US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018. Oman has also facilitated several prisoner exchanges between the two countries.
Oman is continuing that role with the current talks. On Thursday morning, US and Iranian delegations arrived at the Omani ambassador’s residence in Geneva, Switzerland. Inside, Omani officials are expected to act as intermediaries, moving between rooms to relay messages between the two sides.
Indirect talks are common in international diplomacy and are typically employed when nations lack formal diplomatic ties, when their negotiating positions are far apart, or when direct engagement is politically unpopular.
In this case, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out direct talks with the US.
This is the third round of US-Iran nuclear talks in this format. Earlier this month, indirect talks took place once in the Omani capital Muscat and again in Geneva. The first round of talks in Oman on February 6 marked the first diplomatic engagement since the US and Israel struck Iran last summer.
Before the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June, Tehran and Washington had gone through five rounds of negotiations, where Omani mediators shuttled between US and Iranian delegations.
How is Iran preparing for the possibility of a US strike?
Iran has said it is ready for two scenarios: peace or war.
As the United States continues a significant military buildup in the region while nuclear talks between the two nations proceed, Iran has taken steps to signal its readiness for war if US President Donald Trump decides to strike the country, as he has previously threatened.
Iran has spent recent months repairing key missile facilities and heavily damaged air bases while further concealing its nuclear program. It has appointed war veterans to its national security structures, conducted maritime wargames in the Persian Gulf and launched an intense crackdown on domestic dissent.
On Tuesday, ground forces with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) conducted military drills on the country’s southern coast, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported.
Experts say Iranian officials are trying to send a message to the US.
The view from Geneva as US-Iran talks get underway, in what could be a make-or-break moment
There’s a major media buzz outside the Omani ambassador‘s residence in Geneva, Switzerland, where the US and Iran are attending their latest round of indirect talks.
Police have formed a wide cordon around the small residential house right by Lake Geneva, but dozens of TV crews are outside trying to catch a glimpse while analyzing what the talks might yield.
Both the Iranian and US delegations’ convoys rolled past at around 9:30 a.m. local time.
There is a sense here that these talks could be a make-or-break moment, as US President Donald Trump has assembled a major force in the Middle East and alluded that his finger is on the trigger. The Iranians have warned that their response would be severe.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said his country will never seek a nuclear weapon but if an armed conflict starts, the Islamic Republic would consider all of the US bases in the Middle East to be legitimate targets. There are major US military installations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait – well within reach of Iran’s ballistic missiles.
Gulf countries are especially on edge, and many of the media teams outside the venue of the talks in Geneva are from news outlets in the Middle East.
Iranian officials have said they want to avert a major war in the Middle East. A senior Iranian official told me this morning:
High-stakes US-Iran talks begin in Geneva, state media says
The third round of crucial talks between the United States and Iran have begun in Geneva, Switzerland, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said.
Both US and Iranian delegations arrived at the Omani ambassador’s residence a short while ago.
The indirect talks, mediated by Oman, seek to address Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of sanctions relief but both parties have previously voiced skepticism about the other’s intentions.
US-Iran talks must reach breakthrough today to decrease war risk, analyst says
Iran and the US must agree to “soften their red lines” in order to reach a breakthrough in today’s talks and decrease the risk of war, according to an analyst from the International Crisis Group.
“I think today’s talks are decisive because if there is some sort of a breakthrough, then diplomacy might get a chance. But if there is a breakdown, I think the risk of war will increase significantly even as early as this weekend,” Ali Vaez, the global think tank’s Iran Project Director, told CNN’s Rosemary Church.
But the expert expressed concern about the US’ purported goals. “It is not even clear what the US’ end objective is,” he said.
Commenting on the likeliness of a diplomatic breakthrough, Vaez expressed concern about the US military buildup in the Middle East, and Iran’s preparation for potential conflict.
“The momentum is on the side of of a military campaign. Unfortunately much more than it is on the side of diplomacy at this moment.”
What you need to know ahead of today's US-Iran talks in Geneva
Crucial negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue in Geneva today, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The indirect talks aim to address Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of sanctions relief.
Here are five key points to be aware of ahead of the negotiations:
- The Trump administration demands stricter limits on Iran’s nuclear activities. US President Donald Trump said this week that Iran wants to make a deal to avoid a US military strike more than he does, but he claimed despite numerous Iranian statements that Tehran has not explicitly ruled out building nuclear weapons.
- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has already arrived in Geneva, said this week that Tehran would “under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon.” However, he stressed that Iran would not give up its right to civilian nuclear technology.
- Iran’s response to the US, to be presented to Omani mediators, is expected to uphold Tehran’s right to enrich uranium while proposing limits on enrichment levels, a source told CNN this week. In exchange, Iran would expect sanctions relief.
- The negotiations take place against a backdrop of regional tentions, including protests in Iran and concerns over possible military escalation amid a US military buildup in the Middle East.
- Both sides have expressed skepticism about the other’s intentions. Tehran said it is fully prepared for both war and peace but remains committed to diplomacy and a fair nuclear agreement.
Iran maintains its stance in rejecting expanded US demands
As the Trump administration and Israel push for any nuclear deal to also address Iran’s ballistic missiles and its support for regional proxies, Tehran is insisting that it will not accept such expanded terms.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed these issues Wednesday in an interview with India Today.
On missiles, Araghchi dismissed US claims that Iran is developing long-range missiles capable of reaching America as “fake news.” He said Iran has intentionally limited the range of its missiles to below 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) for defensive purposes only. “Our missiles are for deterrence and self-defense, not aggression,” he said.
Regarding support for militant groups such as Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas, Araghchi rejected the label of “proxies,” describing them as independent movements fighting for “just causes” against occupation. He claimed Iran supports these groups only politically and morally, arguing that they act independently and are not under Iranian command.
Araghchi reiterated that Iran has “no intention to go for nuclear weapons and no intention to go for long-range missiles.” He emphasized Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology, stating that Tehran is willing to address concerns through transparency and international oversight but expects sanctions relief in return.
Iran says Trump repeated "big lies" in State of the Union
After his State of the Union address, Iran’s foreign minister accused President Donald Trump of “big lies” and likened Washington’s stance to Nazi propaganda. CNN’s Paula Hancocks reports.
After President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, Iran's foreign minister accused Trump of "big lies" and likened Washington's stance to Nazi propaganda. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports.
