Arya News - The White House says diplomacy is the goal, but Trump warns military strikes remain possible if no deal is reached.
( NewsNation ) — U.S. and Iranian officials are meeting in Geneva on Thursday for a third round of high-stakes talks in a critical moment that could determine whether the two sides avert military conflict and reach a nuclear deal .
Special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in an effort to press Tehran to halt its enrichment of uranium, a key step to building a nuclear bomb, and curtail its production of long-range missiles. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will also take part in discussions.
The talks follow a new wave of U.S. sanctions targeting individuals and companies accused of enabling Iran’s ballistic missile program, drone production and illicit oil sales.
‘Deal is within reach’: Iranian foreign minister
Trump has maintained that military strikes remain possible if no nuclear deal is reached. While his administration says diplomacy remains the goal, they also continue to warn Iran is trying to rebuild elements of its nuclear program.
Trump wants peaceful deal with Iran at any cost: Amb. Mike Huckabee
“Iran poses a very great threat to the United States and has for a very long time,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday during a trip to St. Kitts and Nevis. “After their nuclear program was obliterated, they were told not to try to restart it, and here they are.”
“You can see them always trying to rebuild elements of it,” he continued. “They’re not enriching right now, but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can.”
Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, Araghchi wrote on social media that “Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon,” adding that “a deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority.”
USS Gerald Ford heads toward Middle East
Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, left a base in Greece on Thursday morning en route to the Middle East, as the United States builds out its forces in the region.
Iran has warned American military bases could become targets if the U.S. conducts strikes.
James Jeffrey, former deputy national security adviser to President George W. Bush, said he’s skeptical Thursday’s talks will end in a deal. He told “Morning in America” on Thursday that Tehran believes U.S. naval forces will remain in the region indefinitely — a factor he argues limits the president’s leverage to apply additional pressure.
“I’m not confident at all. Iran has a long history … they will try to drag this out,” he said. “They assume that the American ships remain in the region indefinitely, which is true, and that’s a limit on the president’s ability to exert pressure. They’re putting out … steps to add something that the Trump administration might find acceptable.”
Lawmakers split on potential Iran strikes
Lawmakers remain divided over the possibility of military action. Republicans largely support the push to contain Iran’s nuclear program, while Democrats express concerns about a large-scale military operation.
“I don’t want Iran to be a problem for my children or grandchildren, especially if they develop a nuclear weapon, so I’m fully 100% behind the president,” said Florida Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez.
Ukraine says Russia launched a major aerial attack ahead of US talks
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., cautioned threats alone may not deter Iran.
“The same people who are saying ‘Oh, we don’t need to worry, this is about scaring Iran’ — It doesn’t scare Iran unless we’re willing to take that military action, and based on the president’s past performance, I have no doubt that he might decide tomorrow to take that without any congressional approval,” she said.
Congressional leaders were briefed by the Trump administration on Iran earlier this week. Afterward, Democrats said Trump needed to make a stronger case before pursuing military strikes.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.