US Official: Iran Expected to Submit Written Proposal to Resolve Dispute with Washington

(Patria) - Iran is expected to submit a written proposal on how to resolve the dispute with the United States following US-Iran negotiations in Geneva, a senior US official told Reuters last night.

Senior US national security advisors met on Wednesday in the White House Situation Room to discuss Iran and were told that all US military forces deployed in the region should be in place by mid-March, the official said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel to discuss Iran on February 28, the official said.

Indirect talks on Tuesday in Geneva between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, aimed to prevent a growing crisis between the two countries.

The United States wants Iran to abandon its nuclear program, and Iran has firmly refused and denied trying to develop an atomic weapon.

Iran has agreed to submit a written proposal during the Geneva talks on how to address US concerns, a senior US official said.

"We are currently awaiting that from the Iranians," the official said.

The United States has sought to expand the scope of the talks to non-nuclear issues, such as Iran's missile stockpiles. Iran says it is only willing to discuss limits on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, and that it will not completely abandon uranium enrichment nor discuss its missile program.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that some progress was made in Geneva, but that "we are still very divided on some issues.".

Trump ordered a major military buildup in the region as he considers the use of force with another carrier group en route.

"The President has ordered a continuation of the buildup in the region, including the arrival of a second carrier group. Full forces should be deployed by mid-March," the US official said.