Powell’s presence at the talks, and his close knowledge of how they were progressing, was confirmed by three sources. Nuclear experts would later say that Witkoff’s pronouncements on the Iran nuclear programme were riddled with basic errors. Downing Street declined to comment on Powell’s presence at the Geneva talks or his view of them. The indirect talks in Geneva between Iran and the US were being mediated by Oman’s foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. In the final session of the talks, Iran agreed to a three- to-five-year pause on domestic enrichment, but the US in the afternoon session, after consultations with Trump, demanded a 10-year pause.

Source: The Guardian March 17, 2026 19:21 UTC