Geneva negotiations temporarily suspended; Americans demand Tehran hand over uranium.

 Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said that US and Iranian negotiators paused talks and would resume later on Thursday. At the same time, Washington is expected to demand that Iran dismantle three nuclear sites and hand over its enriched uranium.

The Omani minister noted that the parties exchanged innovative and positive ideas during the US-Iranian talks in Geneva on Thursday, expressing his hope for further progress.

For its part, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that intensive negotiations lasted for nearly three hours, with the participation of the Omani Foreign Minister and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and were scheduled to resume around 6:00 PM local time.

The ministry confirmed that the US and Iranian negotiating teams presented their viewpoints seriously.

It stated, "There are contradictory statements from some US officials, which raise doubts about their seriousness."

It added that the Iranian side presented important and practical proposals and initiatives regarding the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that proposals were put forward during Thursday's negotiations, some of which require consultation with leaders in their respective capitals.

American demands

In this context, Axios reported, citing informed sources, that US envoy Steve Wittkopf and Jared Kushner held negotiations lasting more than three hours with the Iranian Foreign Minister in Geneva.

The sources confirmed that the third round of talks was held in two formats: direct and indirect, between the Americans and Iranians, adding that the Iranians presented their long-awaited draft proposal for a nuclear agreement.

Fox News also quoted US officials as saying that any agreement would require Iran to halt enrichment and provide guarantees that it would not revive its nuclear program.

For its part, The Wall Street Journal quoted officials as saying that Washington is expected to ask Iran to dismantle three nuclear sites and hand over its enriched uranium.

The newspaper added that negotiators are expected to insist that any nuclear agreement must be permanent and not subject to expiration.

The latest round of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran began today in Geneva, aimed at resolving their long-standing dispute over Tehran's nuclear program and averting new US strikes against Iran following a large-scale military buildup.

Source: Agencies