Senior US official: Iran expected to provide written proposal to resolve standoff

A senior unnamed US official told Reuters that Iran is expected to submit a written proposal on resolving its standoff with the United States following indirect talks on Tuesday in Geneva.

The official said Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva to avert an escalating crisis. Iran agreed during the talks to provide a written proposal addressing US concerns, with the US now awaiting it. The US seeks to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran firmly rejects, denying any pursuit of nuclear weapons.

The official noted that US national security advisors met Wednesday in the White House Situation Room on Iran and were informed that all deployed US forces in the region must be in position by mid-March. President Trump has ordered a sharp military buildup, including a second carrier strike group en route, with full deployment by mid-March.

The US has sought to expand talks to non-nuclear issues like Iran's missile stockpiles, but Iran insists on discussing only nuclear limits in exchange for sanctions relief and refuses to abandon uranium enrichment or address its missile program.

White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that progress was made in Geneva but significant differences remain. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on February 28 to discuss Iran.

Hasht-e Subh reported that some US media have speculated on a possible US attack on Iran over the weekend.