US and Iran Continue Nuclear Talks Amidst Trump’s Pressure

Washington DC – President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with the progress of recent negotiations with Iran, but has not yet decided whether to order a military strike on Tehran. The latest round of US-Iran talks was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Ongoing Negotiations and Trump’s Stance

Following the negotiations, President Trump stated that Tehran was “not willing to give us what we should acquire.” He emphasized that he has not made a final decision regarding military action, but voiced dissatisfaction with the negotiation process. “We’re not completely happy with the way they’re negotiating. They can’t have nuclear weapons, and we’re not happy with the way they’re negotiating,” Trump said. NBC News reported.

Trump reiterated his demand for Iran to cease all uranium enrichment, even for civilian purposes. “I said no enrichment. Not 20 percent, 30 percent, they always desire 20 percent, 30 percent, they want it for civil purposes, you know, for civil purposes. I think that’s uncivilized,” he stated.

Iran’s Position and Previous Accusations

Iran has consistently maintained that it does not seek nuclear weapons, a claim supported by US intelligence assessments which have found no evidence of a decision by Tehran to pursue such weapons. Though, the US and Israel, which conducted strikes against Iran in June of the previous year, remain skeptical. Wikipedia details the history of these tensions.

Risk of Escalation and Potential Regime Change

When questioned about the potential for a US attack to trigger a wider conflict in the Middle East, Trump acknowledged the inherent risks. “I think you can always say there is always a risk,” he said. “You know, when there is war, there are risks in everything, both good and bad.”

Regarding the possibility of a US attack leading to the downfall of the Iranian regime, Trump offered no definitive prediction. “Nobody knows. Maybe it will happen and maybe it won’t happen,” he said.

Recent Developments in Negotiations

The second round of Omani-mediated talks took place in Rome on April 19, 2025, with indirect discussions between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The first round of high-level meetings was held in Oman on April 12, 2025, led by Witkoff and Araghchi. Both sides initially described the discussions as constructive.

A third round of indirect negotiations took place in Geneva on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as “positive,” stating that “good progress was achieved, and we entered a serious review of the elements of an agreement, both in the nuclear field and on sanctions.” He similarly indicated that another round of talks is expected within approximately one week.

According to sources familiar with the Trump administration’s perspective, the discussions were also viewed as “positive.”

Key Participants

• United States: Steve Witkoff (Special Envoy), Michael Anton (Director of Policy Planning), Brad Cooper (CENTCOM commander), Jared Kushner (Presidential Advisor)
• Iran: Abbas Araghchi (Foreign Minister), Majid Takht-Ravanchi (Deputy Foreign Minister), Ali Larijani (Supreme National Security Council)