U.S. warns Iran's reluctance to discuss weapons is a 'big, big problem' as fresh talks begin
#US-Iran talks #Nuclear deal #Ballistic missiles #Sanctions relief #Geneva negotiations #Marco Rubio #Abbas Araghchi #Military buildup
📌 Key Takeaways
- U.S. Secretary Rubio identified Iran's refusal to discuss ballistic missiles as a major negotiation obstacle
- Third round of talks occurs amid U.S. military buildup and Trump's threats against Iran
- Iran has rejected uranium enrichment demands but signaled flexibility in reaching a deal
- Ongoing anti-government protests in Iran increase pressure for sanctions relief
- Analysts expect both sides to reaffirm core positions without immediate breakthrough
📖 Full Retelling
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran's reluctance to discuss its intercontinental ballistic missiles program was a 'big, big problem' as a third round of talks between Washington and Tehran commenced in Geneva on Thursday, with the U.S. delegation led by Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi headed Tehran's team amid mounting pressure on Iran to agree to a nuclear deal and curb its missile development. The U.S. has positioned a large military force in the Middle East ahead of these discussions, and President Trump previously threatened that 'bad things' would happen if Iran refuses to accept a new nuclear agreement. Rubio emphasized that Iran 'refuses – refuses – to talk about ballistic missiles,' describing their conventional weapons as 'solely designed to attack America and attack Americans,' while Trump claimed without evidence that Iran was developing rockets capable of reaching the U.S. territory soon. Iran faces ongoing anti-government protests over economic issues and authoritarian leadership, with students leading demonstrations across universities on Thursday, adding urgency to Tehran's need for sanctions relief. Despite the pressure, Iran has rejected U.S. demands to stop enriching uranium for nuclear weapons, with Araghchi insisting Iran would 'under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon,' though he signaled flexibility by stating a 'fair, balanced and equitable deal' was within reach and Iran was 'entitled to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.' Analysts expressed skepticism about immediate breakthroughs, with Georgetown University professor Paul Musgrave noting both sides would likely 'reaffirm their core interests' without expecting major progress in the next 24 hours, while acknowledging that military action wasn't seen as an immediate threat despite the heightened tensions.
🏷️ Themes
Diplomacy, Nuclear Proliferation, Regional Security
📚 Related People & Topics
Marco Rubio
American politician and diplomat (born 1971)
Marco Antonio Rubio (, ROO-bee-oh; born May 28, 1971) is an American politician, attorney, and diplomat serving as the 72nd United States secretary of state since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Florida in the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2025. Rubio is also the acting national se...
Ballistic missile
Missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath
A ballistic missile is a type of missile that follows a ballistic trajectory and is powered only during a relatively brief initial period—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) typically stay within the Earth's atmosphere, while most larger missiles travel outside the...
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Original Source
In this article USB UAMY Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT This combination of pictures created on April 09, 2025 shows US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff after a meeting with Russian officials at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025 and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to AFP during an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Amer Hilabi | AFP | Getty Images A third round of talks between the U.S. and Iran kicked off in Geneva on Thursday, with Iran under immense pressure to agree a nuclear deal with the States and to curb its nuclear and ballistic missile development programs. The U.S. has amassed a large military force in the Middle East ahead of the discussions and President Donald Trump warned last week that "bad things" would happen if Iran does not agree to a new nuclear deal. On the eve of the latest talks in Switzerland, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran's reluctance to discuss its development of intercontinental ballistic missiles was also a significant stumbling block. "The negotiations [on Thursday] will be largely focused on the nuclear program, and we hope progress can be made ... But it's also important to remember that Iran refuses – refuses – to talk about ballistic missiles to us or to anyone, and that's a big problem," he told reporters Wednesday. Rubio said that beyond the nuclear program, Iran's conventional weapons were "solely designed to attack America and attack Americans, if they so choose to do so. These things have to be addressed." watch now VIDEO 1:59 01:59 U.S., Iran gear up for third round of nuclear talks in Geneva Access Middle East Trump alleged in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that Tehran was working on rockets that could "soon" reach the U.S. but did not present evidence for his assertion. When asked how close Iran was to achieving such weaponry that posed a direct threat to U.S. territory, Rubio said, "clearly...
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