Iran’s foreign minister anticipates a draft counterproposal in the coming days following nuclear talks with the U.S., while the U.S. president is considering limited military strikes against Iran. U.S. military planning regarding Iran has reached an advanced stage, including options for targeting individuals and potential leadership change.
U.S. Military Options and Deadline for Iran
Two U.S. officials reported that U.S. military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage, with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing leadership change in Tehran, if ordered by the president. The president on Thursday issued a deadline of 10 to 15 days for Iran to reach a deal resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute, warning of “really bad things” amid a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.
Asked Friday if he was considering a limited strike to pressure Iran into a deal, the president told reporters at the White House: “I guess I can say I am considering” it. He later added, “They better negotiate a fair deal.”
Progress in Nuclear Talks
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, stated after indirect discussions in Geneva this week with the president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner that the sides had reached an understanding on main “guiding principles,” but cautioned that a deal was not imminent.
Araqchi said on US cable news network MS Now that he had a draft counterproposal that could be ready in the next two or three days for top Iranian officials to review, with more US-Iran talks possible in a week or so. He added that military action would complicate efforts to reach a deal.
Previous Actions and Allegations
After the U.S. and Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities and some military sites in June, the president again began threatening strikes in January as Tehran suppressed widespread protests with deadly force. The president claimed that “32,000 people were killed over a relatively short period of time” during the crackdown, a figure that has not been independently verified.
The president asserted that his threats led Iran to abandon plans for mass hangings two weeks ago. “They were going to hang 837 people. And I gave them the word, if you hang one person, even one person, that you’re going to be hit right then and there,” he said.
The US-based group Hrana, which monitors the human rights situation in Iran, has recorded 7,114 verified deaths and says it has another 11,700 under review. Araqchi responded by stating that the Iranian government had already published a “comprehensive list” of 3,117 killed in the unrest, inviting scrutiny of their data.
Ongoing Negotiations and Concerns
Araqchi indicated that a diplomatic deal was within reach and could be achieved “in a very short period of time,” but did not specify a timeline for the counterproposal. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated concerns about heightened rhetoric and increased military activities in the region.
During the Geneva talks, the U.S. did not seek zero uranium enrichment and Iran did not offer to suspend enrichment. Araqchi stated, “What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran’s nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever,” adding that technical and political “confidence-building measures” would be enacted in exchange for action on sanctions.
A White House official responded, stating that the president has been clear that “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them, and that they cannot enrich uranium.”
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