U.S. and Iranian officials held one of their “most intense” negotiation sessions in Geneva on Thursday but did not reach an agreement amid a growing dispute over .
“We’ve made additional progress in our diplomatic talks with the U.S.,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated. “This round of negotiations was the most intensive to date.”
He added that there is a “mutual understanding” that both sides will continue to engage in a more “detailed fashion.”
The U.S. delegation—headed by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner—has not yet issued a statement about the negotiations’ status.
TIME has contacted the White House to request a comment.
The risk of conflict breaking out between the two nations persists, as the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Middle East over recent weeks amid rising tensions.
Ahead of Thursday’s talks, Araghchi noted that any conflict between the two countries would likely lead to a “devastating war.”
“Since U.S. bases are spread across various locations in the region, unfortunately, the entire area might become involved,” he stated. “We are, of course, prepared—for both war and peace.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has also stated that the U.S. is ready to take military action if certain conditions are not met, citing last year’s as a warning.
In his Tuesday night State of the Union address, Trump accused Iran of reviving “sinister ambitions” linked to nuclear weapons and seemed to suggest the U.S. would consider if Tehran did not give up those ambitions. He alleged Iran was attempting to “develop missiles that will soon be able to reach the United States.”
Iran quickly those claims, accusing Trump of spreading “big lies” about its nuclear program and the January uprising against the Iranian regime—an event where security forces killed, , tens of thousands of protesters.
In his speech, Trump claimed Iran had “killed at least 32,000 protesters in their own country—they shot many and hanged others.” Iranian officials rejected those cited numbers.
In late January, local health officials informed TIME that the protest death toll 30,000. TIME has not been able to independently confirm these numbers.
On Friday, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that “the situation in Iran remains volatile” and expressed concerns that more Iranians could face execution in connection with the protests.
“I am appalled by reports that at least eight individuals—including two children—have been sentenced to death in relation to the protests. Another 30 are said to be at risk of the same punishment,” he stated, calling for “independent, impartial, and transparent investigations, fair trial guarantees, and an immediate moratorium on the death penalty.”
“I am deeply concerned about the possibility of regional military escalation and its effect on civilians,” he added. “I hope reason will prevail.”
Key Stumbling Blocks in the U.S.-Iran Standoff
According to Araghchi, discussions about nuclear capabilities and the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran will remain the main focus going forward.
Regarding the nuclear dispute, Elyas Hazrati—head of the Iranian Government Information Council—stated: “Enrichment will continue as needed, and nothing will leave Iran; other options, such as dilution, are still under consideration.”
Enriched uranium can serve as fuel for power plants, but at high concentrations it can also be used to produce nuclear weapons. The U.S. is seeking firm guarantees from Iran about its uranium enrichment activities and inspections that allow Washington to verify Tehran is not developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has strongly denied ever pursuing nuclear weapons.
However, as Trump’s State of the Union address showed, the U.S. still has concerns about such weapons.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed those concerns on Wednesday, stating: “It’s also crucial to note that Iran refuses to discuss ballistic missiles with us or anyone else—and that’s a major issue.”
Araghchi stated after Thursday’s talks that “nuclear-related steps” are necessary for any agreement and will be discussed in greater detail going forward.
He also emphasized the significance of lifting sanctions.
Earlier this week, the U.S. imposed expanded sanctions targeting Iranian-linked entities and shadow fleets.
“The Iranian regime continues to mismanage its economy, leading to catastrophic outcomes for its people, and prioritizes funding foreign proxies and missiles over the basic needs of ordinary Iranians,” a Feb. 25 U.S. State Department statement read. “Today’s sanctions target the illicit funds the regime uses to pursue its harmful and destabilizing goals.”
Iran has rejected these additional measures.
What’s Next?
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi—acting as a mediator—stated after the talks ended that both sides would return to their respective capitals for consultations and that “technical-level discussions” would occur next week in Vienna.
Regarding the technical teams—experts responsible for working out the operational details of any agreement—Araghchi said their task is as “critical as ours” for establishing a future deal framework.
However, all involved teams appear to be working under a tight deadline, as Trump warned on Feb. 19 that Iran must reach an agreement within 10 to 15 days—otherwise, “really bad things” would occur.
The State Department announced on Friday morning that Rubio will travel to Israel next week to “discuss a range of regional priorities, including Iran.”
