Geneva: Iran is preparing a retaliatory offer after concluding nuclear talks with the United States, as the US leader considers a limited offensive against Iran.
According to Thai News Agency, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with MS NOW, a US cable news channel, discussed the recent indirect discussions held with Steve Whitkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, in Geneva, Switzerland on February 17. Araghchi mentioned that while both sides understood the guiding principles, reaching an agreement soon is unlikely. A draft counter-proposal is ready for consideration by senior Iranian officials and may be presented within the next two to three days, with the possibility of another meeting with the US within a week. He cautioned that any US military action would complicate efforts to finalize an agreement.
President Trump had issued a 10-15 day deadline for Iran to reach a nuclear agreement or face serious consequences. Following this, he suggested he was contemplating a limited offensive against Iran. Two U.S. officials disclosed that military plans targeting Iran have progressed, including options from targeting individuals to potentially replacing the Iranian leadership if ordered by President Trump.
In response to President Trump's assertion that as many as 32,000 people in Iran were killed in a short period and his claim that his threat of attack led to the cancellation of a mass hanging of 837 people, Iran's Foreign Minister countered via X, stating that the Iranian government has released a detailed list of 3,117 people killed in protests. He invited verification of this list's accuracy. Concurrently, HRANA, a US-based group monitoring human rights in Iran, has reportedly confirmed 7,114 deaths and is investigating an additional 11,700 cases.