02/28/2026, 06:3202/28/2026, 06:32
US President Donald Trump is dissatisfied with the progress of the nuclear negotiations with Iran so far, while the mediating state of Oman sees a deal within reach. “I’m not happy with the way they’re behaving,” Trump said of the Iranians in Washington. “We want Iran not to have nuclear weapons, and they don’t say exactly these important words.” Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Bussaidi presented it differently on the US broadcaster CBS News. According to this, there is an agreement that Iran will never have nuclear material to build an atomic bomb.
This is the most important success in the ongoing negotiations, said al-Bussaidi in the interview. During a visit to the US state of Texas, Trump criticized Iran for not wanting to give up enriching uranium. The country wants to “enrich a little bit,” even if there is no need for it. “I say: no enrichment, not 20 percent, 30 percent,” which is what Iran wants for civilian purposes. He is not satisfied with that.
Oman’s Foreign Minister: “Peace is within reach”
In al-Bussaidi’s opinion, the argument of uranium enrichment is losing significance, “because now we are talking about zero storage.” If you can’t store enriched nuclear material, it would be “impossible to make a bomb,” he said. In the event of an agreement, Iran would also grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) full access to its nuclear facilities. He added that he was quite confident “that US inspectors will also have access at some point.”
Representatives of the Iranian delegation in Geneva, February 26. Image: keystone
When asked about Iran’s missile program, Oman’s foreign minister said: “I believe that Iran is open to discussing everything.” Iran had previously made it clear that limiting its missile program was not negotiable. Al-Bussaidi now said that the most important points could be agreed on “tomorrow”. Technical details would still take some time. “I think everything will be ready within three months,” he said. After a previous meeting with US Vice President JD Vance, he wrote on X: “Peace is within reach.” He looks forward to “further and decisive” progress in the coming days.
Trump: A deal has to make sense
Trump said: “You want to make a deal, but it has to be a deal that makes sense.” The USA and Iran last negotiated on Thursday. According to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi, “technical talks” are initially planned for Monday in Vienna, where the IAEA headquarters are located. It is still unclear whether there will be a further, fourth round of negotiations between both sides.
Trump recently gave Iran an ultimatum until the beginning of March. “Either we reach an agreement or it will be unfortunate for them.” He has threatened military action if an agreement is not reached. “But I would rather do it in a peaceful way. But they are very difficult people… they are very dangerous people, very difficult people,” Trump said. It would be nicer if military action wasn’t necessary, he said before he left for Texas – “but sometimes you have to do it this way.”
Massive US military presence in the Middle East
Trump emphasized that he did not want to use the “strongest military in the world”. He also pointed out that he saw a risk of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East as a result of a US attack. “War always carries risks, both positive and negative.” Trump said he has not yet made a final decision about the next course. In Washington, he had recently said to the government in Tehran: “You should conclude an agreement, that would be smart of you.”
Washington had recently significantly increased its military presence in the region. If the US attacks Iran, Tehran is expected to attack targets in Israel. In view of the tense situation, the federal government “strongly” advises against traveling to Israel. The Foreign Office (AA) adjusted its travel and safety advice for the country on Friday evening. “We strongly advise against traveling to Israel and East Jerusalem,” it says on the AA homepage. Israel is still “formally in a state of war”.
US accuses Iran of hostage diplomacy
The US government now officially designates Iran as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”. In an X-post about the decision, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Tehran of detaining innocent foreigners – including Americans – as a means of political pressure for decades. This “despicable practice” of taking political hostages must be stopped. If the Islamic Republic does not change its approach, further measures could follow, explained Rubio. (sda/dpa)