Washington, United States. Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday he expected a draft counterproposal to be ready within days following nuclear talks with the United States this week, as U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering limited military strikes.
Draft counterproposal and potential next talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said after indirect discussions in Geneva this week with Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner that the sides had reached an understanding on main “guiding principles,” but said that did not mean a deal was imminent.
In an interview on MS NOW, Araqchi said he had a draft counterproposal that could be ready in the next two or three days for top Iranian officials to review, with more U.S.-Iran talks possible in a week or so.
He said military action would complicate efforts to reach a deal.
U.S. deadline and military planning
Trump on Thursday gave Tehran a deadline of 10 to 15 days to make a deal to resolve their longstanding nuclear dispute or face “really bad things,” as the United States built up its military presence in the Middle East, fueling fears of a wider war.
Asked on Friday if he was considering a limited strike to pressure Iran into a deal, Trump told reporters at the White House: “I guess I can say I am considering” it. Later at a White House press conference, he added: “They better negotiate a fair deal.”
Two U.S. officials told Reuters that U.S. military planning on Iran had reached an advanced stage, with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing leadership change in Tehran, if ordered by Trump.
Earlier strikes and comments on protests
After the U.S. and Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities and some military sites in June, Trump began threatening strikes again in January as Tehran crushed widespread protests with deadly force.
Referring to the crackdown on Friday, Trump said there was a difference between the people of Iran and the country’s leadership. He said “32,000 people were killed over a relatively short period of time,” figures that could not immediately be verified.
What impact do you think the stated deadline could have on upcoming U.S.-Iran negotiations?