UK security adviser attended US-Iran talks and judged deal was within reach

"Powell thought that progress had been made in Geneva and that the deal proposed by Iran was surprising, according to sources. Powell's presence at the talks, and his close knowledge of how they were progressing, was confirmed by three sources. One source said he was in the building at Oman's ambassadorial residence in Cologny acting as an adviser, reflecting widespread concern about the US expertise on the talks represented by Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff."

"Jonathan thought there was a deal to be done, but Iran were not quite there yet, especially on the issue of UN inspections of its nuclear sites. A former official who was briefed on the Geneva talks by some of the participants said: Witkoff and Kushner did not bring a US technical team with them. They used Grossi as their technical expertise."

"Nuclear experts would later say that Witkoff's pronouncements on the Iran nuclear programme were riddled with basic errors. Powell has long experience as a mediator, and one source said Powell brought an expert from the UK Cabinet Office with him, reflecting concerns about American technical knowledge at the negotiations."

Britain's national security adviser Jonathan Powell attended final US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva and determined that Iran's nuclear programme offer was substantial enough to avert military conflict. Powell believed progress had been made and found Iran's proposed deal surprisingly positive. However, two days after the talks ended and a date was set for further technical discussions in Vienna, Donald Trump and Israel launched an attack on Iran. Powell's assessment was based on close observation of negotiations led by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, whose nuclear expertise was questioned by specialists. Powell brought UK Cabinet Office expertise to the talks, reflecting concerns about the American delegation's technical knowledge.

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