Former IRGC commander says US ‘confused’ in nuclear talks approach

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are in Paris from April 16 to 18 for meetings with French and European officials, with Iran among the key topics on a broader agenda that also includes Ukraine and regional affairs.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Steve Witkoff will travel to Paris, France, April 16–18 for talks with European counterparts to advance President Trump’s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

The officials will also “discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region,” she added.

Politico reported earlier that the agenda will include talks with French officials on Iran, as part of ongoing US efforts to engage allies over nuclear diplomacy.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said any agreement between Iran and the United States will require the agency’s involvement to be credible, Le Monde reported on Wednesday.

“Without us, any agreement is just a piece of paper,” Grossi said in an interview ahead of his visit to Tehran, where he is expected to meet Iranian officials amid renewed nuclear diplomacy.

Grossi confirmed that while the IAEA is not directly involved in the recent talks between Tehran and Washington, informal consultations have begun. He emphasized that the agency would need to assess any final deal and determine verification measures.

“There needs to be a robust verification and monitoring system that only we can provide,” he said.

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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Moscow on Thursday for consultations with top Russian officials, Iran’s ambassador to Russia said on Wednesday.

The visit is part of continued high-level contacts between the two countries. "Talks will focus on advancing bilateral relations, regional cooperation, and international engagement", according to Ambassador Kazem Jalali.

Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Araghchi confirmed he would be delivering a message from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow trip.

Divisions have emerged inside the Trump administration over how far to push Iran in nuclear negotiations, with top officials split between calls for full dismantlement and a more limited, verifiable deal, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

While National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have maintained that Iran must be stripped of all enrichment capabilities, chief negotiator Steve Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance have privately argued that such a demand would likely derail the talks, the report said, citing officials familiar with internal discussions.

“Mr. Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance have argued internally that it would doom the negotiations to insist on full dismantlement,” the report said. Instead, they support strict verification measures, potentially run by the United States.

Witkoff initially suggested a softer approach during a Fox News interview Monday night, describing the need for “verification on enrichment... and ultimately verification on weaponization.” But following a White House meeting Tuesday, he released a new statement declaring, “Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.”

Talks are set to resume Saturday.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that negotiations with the United States are continuing in a routine manner and are not disrupting the country’s internal affairs, Iranian media reported.

“The talks are proceeding normally, and government affairs are moving forward without being held up even for a second,” Pezeshkian told a cabinet meeting. “Naturally, we would welcome a final agreement if it is reached.”

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