Jonathan Powell, Britain’s national security adviser, attended the final US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva, assessing Tehran’s offer as significant enough to avoid war, per the Guardian. Powell noted progress but highlighted unresolved issues, particularly UN inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites, which Iran had not fully addressed. The talks, mediated by Oman’s Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, included Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, whose technical expertise was questioned by experts.

Iran proposed a three- to five-year pause on domestic enrichment and an economic bonanza offer involving a civil nuclear program, with 80% of sanctions lifted. However, the US demanded a 10-year pause, which Iran could not meet due to prior sabotage of enrichment facilities. The UK, skeptical of the attack’s necessity, saw no imminent threat and viewed the strike as unlawful.

This diplomatic rift between the UK and US underscored tensions over the viability of the deal and the legitimacy of military action. The Vienna talks, meant to follow Geneva, were canceled after the attack, leaving the nuclear standoff unresolved.