On a knife’s edge with a potentially imminent strike at stake, international media are revealing new details following yesterday’s indirect talks in Geneva between the US and Iran. Tehran, specifically, according to sources cited by Sky News, offered for the first time to never store nuclear material and to reduce its current stockpiles to “almost zero,” in exchange for lifting sanctions.
Iran, according to the British outlet, appears willing to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (which participated in yesterday’s Geneva talks) to “reduce” its stockpiles, either by converting them into fuel or exporting them. Details such as enrichment levels have not yet been discussed in detail, but Iran would remain “well below the 20% level, which is the red zone,” a person with knowledge of the talks told Sky News. However, no decision has been made regarding what will happen to the country’s existing nuclear facilities, which according to the Wall Street Journal, was among US demands.
Notably, according to the British media outlet, one issue not discussed in detail was Iran’s ballistic missile program. In recent days, the US government has claimed, without evidence, that Iran has the capability to attack the US mainland, a view adopted by the White House but not confirmed by US intelligence agencies, according to a Reuters report.
In any case (staying on the topic of diplomatic contacts), “technical talks” will take place in Vienna on Monday. They will focus on three main points, according to international media: how to address Iran’s current stockpile and within what timeframe, how a future monitoring mechanism could work, and understanding Iran’s plans for a civilian nuclear program over the next decade.
For his part, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that to reach an agreement, the United States must abandon its “excessive demands” following yesterday’s talks between the two sides in Geneva. In a phone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi said: “Success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoiding any wrong assessments and excessive demands.”
Everything appears ready for US strike on Iran: “Leave TODAY”
But diplomacy is conducted with finger on the trigger: With the threat of a US attack on Iran approaching, the US embassy in Jerusalem informed its staff that they can leave Israel and warned them that if they wish to do so, it is vital to do it immediately, according to an email sent by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to embassy staff on Friday.
This move followed meetings and phone calls that lasted all night, as Mr. Huckabee told embassy staff in the email, and was the result of “excessive caution” and discussions with the State Department, during which officials agreed that embassy staff security was a priority.
Those wishing to leave “must do so TODAY,” Mr. Huckabee wrote in the email, sent at 10:24 a.m. local time. He urged them to find flights from Ben Gurion Airport to any destination for which they could book tickets. The embassy’s decision “will likely lead to high demand for airline tickets today,” he noted in the email, a copy of which was reviewed by The New York Times. “Focus on finding a seat on any flight from which you can continue your journey to Washington, but the first priority will be to leave the country quickly.”
This notification became official as earlier in the morning, the US embassy in Israel advised “non-essential personnel” and family members of embassy staff to leave the country due to “security risks.” All this is taking place while also from this morning, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest US aircraft carrier, arrived off Israel. It should be noted that the Lincoln aircraft carrier has been stationed off Oman for some time, something particularly rare in relation to potential US military operations.
Vance’s message
For his part, JD Vance, speaking to the Washington Post, ruled out the possibility of a long-term war, but not potential new bombings against Tehran. As he characteristically emphasized to the newspaper: “The idea that we would be involved in a war in the Middle East for years, with no end in sight–there’s no chance of that happening. I think we all prefer the diplomatic option.” The US Vice President noted, however, that developments will be determined “truly by what the Iranians do and say.”
