Middle East crisis Tensions Iran-US

“Significant progress” in nuclear talks

Iran and the US have made “significant progress” in the third round of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear energy program. This was stated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who has mediated the talks, according to AFP.

From the Iranian side, the negotiations with the US have been described as “intense and serious”, according to Bloomberg. US President Donald Trump has threatened military attacks on Iran if the countries cannot reach an agreement.

The US demands that Iran send its highly enriched uranium out of the country, something that Iran cannot imagine agreeing to. The US also wants Iran to destroy its largest nuclear facilities, and for the agreement to be valid forever.

Analysis: Today's talks could be the last chance
By Tor Gasslander
Published: Today 09:39

A lot is at stake when Iran presents its proposal for a solution during the negotiations with the US in Geneva today. This is what SVT's Samir Abu Eid says in an analysis.

- It could be the last chance for diplomacy. If they do not reach an agreement, the US may strike militarily.

Richard Weitz at the NATO Defence College tells Al Jazeera that today's discussions will probably revolve around Iran's uranium enrichment, but that these are actually issues that should be quite easy to agree on.

Hassan Ahmadian at the University of Tehran, however, is of the opposite opinion. Even though the substantive issues are relatively simple, the negotiations are almost impossible because the US is constantly changing its position, he tells the same channel.

- Every time the US mediator enters the room, it is as if we have never had any previous talks. We are starting from scratch, and it is very frustrating and makes it difficult to move forward.

Tense in Israel – but some residents hope for war

Jerusalem has been almost completely emptied of tourists due to concerns that tensions between the US and Iran will escalate into a regional war, Sky News reports from the scene.

– I think there will be war, and nobody likes war, says shop manager Mohammed Liftawi.

However, not all the city's residents are worried.

– I hope it starts soon, 23-year-old Moshe Cohen tells the TV channel, smiling.

He believes that Iran finances Hamas and that "you have to cut off its head". He and his friend Bezalel say they advocate that Israel attack Iran itself if the US does not.

Israel, the US and Iran – the point is this

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly expressed his skepticism that Trump will be able to reach an agreement with Iran.
• The US and Israel agreed earlier in February on new economic sanctions against the country, particularly targeting oil exports to China.
• Iran and the US are holding negotiations in Geneva today about Iran's nuclear energy program.
• If the negotiations fail to reach a conclusion, the US has opened the door to a military attack.