Trump voices dissatisfaction with Iran’s stance, while mediator claims a diplomatic breakthrough

President Donald Trump on Friday expressed frustration over Iran’s position in ongoing nuclear negotiations, as US personnel began leaving Israel over security concerns. However, mediator Oman described the latest diplomatic efforts as a “breakthrough” aimed at preventing war.

Trump has ordered one of the largest US military deployments to the Middle East in decades. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is moving toward Israel’s coast as Washington presses Tehran for sweeping concessions, particularly over its nuclear program.

Speaking a day after US and Iranian officials met in Geneva, Trump said the Islamic Republic was “not willing to give us what we have to have.”

“We’re not exactly happy with the way they negotiated. They cannot have nuclear weapons, and we’re not thrilled with the way they’re negotiating,” he told reporters.

Trump later clarified that he wants Iran to halt all uranium enrichment — including levels that could potentially be used in nuclear weapons development, something Tehran denies pursuing.

Oman, which facilitated the Geneva talks, presented a far more optimistic assessment. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said Iran had agreed to stop stockpiling uranium altogether, effectively sidestepping disputes over enrichment levels.

According to Albusaidi, Iran also committed to converting its existing uranium stockpiles into fuel. Speaking in Washington after meeting US Vice President JD Vance, he told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that negotiators had achieved an unprecedented step forward.

“If the ultimate objective is to ensure forever that Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, I think we have cracked that problem through these negotiations by agreeing a very important breakthrough that has never been achieved any time before,” he said. Albusaidi added that a final agreement could be completed within three months if progress continues.

The renewed US pressure campaign comes just weeks after Iranian authorities suppressed mass protests, reportedly killing thousands.

As American forces continue to mobilize in the region, Trump acknowledged uncertainty over whether a US strike would topple Iran’s government, saying “nobody knows” the outcome of such action.

Iran previously accepted restrictions on low-level uranium enrichment under the 2015 nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Trump withdrew from during his first term.

In June, Trump claimed that Iran’s major nuclear facilities had been “obliterated” following US participation in a significant Israeli bombing campaign.

Rubio heads to Israel

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday for discussions focused on Iran, the State Department announced.

In a break from long-standing tradition, Rubio will travel without reporters accompanying him.

His visit comes as the US embassy in Israel authorized the departure of non-essential government staff and family members due to “safety risks.”

Germany issued an urgent advisory discouraging travel to Israel. Britain and Canada said they were relocating some diplomatic staff from Tel Aviv as a precaution. Meanwhile, China and Canada urged their citizens to leave Iran, and Britain withdrew embassy personnel from Tehran.

Issues beyond the nuclear file

In his State of the Union address earlier this week, Trump alleged that Iran was developing missiles capable of reaching the United States.

Rubio later warned that it would pose a “very big problem” if Tehran refuses to discuss its missile program. Iranian officials, however, insist the negotiations are limited strictly to nuclear matters.

Adding further pressure, Rubio designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detentions — a new blacklist — over its imprisonment of US citizens.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying meaningful progress would require “seriousness and realism from the other side” and avoidance of “miscalculation and excessive demands.”

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed it will hold technical talks with Iran on Monday and urged Tehran to cooperate “constructively,” according to a confidential report obtained by AFP.

On the streets of Tehran, public opinion reflected caution and economic anxiety. Many Iranians voiced distrust of Washington but expressed hope that negotiations would ease sanctions and improve living conditions.

“Whatever the outcome of the negotiations, it should lead to some improvement in people’s economic situation. Not just a little — it is our right,” said Ali Bagheri, 34.

Hamid Beiranvand, 42, argued that Iran should not “give any concessions” because Washington “breaks promises,” but added that “everyone prefers that a war doesn’t happen.”