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

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

Jonathan Powell, the UK’s national security adviser, participated in the last round of US-Iran discussions in Geneva and assessed that Tehran’s nuclear programme proposal held enough promise to avoid a swift military escalation, The Guardian has revealed. According to multiple sources, Powell believed that progress had been made during late February negotiations, with Iran’s offer described as “surprising” by those involved.

Two days after the talks concluded, the US and Israel initiated an attack on Iran. Powell’s engagement with the Geneva discussions, along with his prior meetings in the Swiss city, was confirmed by three separate individuals. One source noted that he was present at the Oman ambassadorial residence in Cologny, acting as a strategic advisor. This highlights broader concerns about the US team’s expertise, particularly regarding the role of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, who invited IAEA director Rafael Grossi to provide technical insight.

Kushner and Witkoff claimed to possess a strong grasp of the critical issues, yet nuclear specialists later pointed out fundamental mistakes in Witkoff’s statements. Powell, with extensive experience in mediation, brought a UK Cabinet Office expert to the talks. A Western diplomat stated:

“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 received briefings from Geneva participants, added:

“Witkoff and Kushner did not bring a US technical team with them. They used Grossi as their technical expert, but that is not his job. So Jonathan Powell took his own team.”

The British delegation observed that Iran’s proposal was not a complete agreement but represented meaningful advancement. They anticipated further negotiations in Vienna, yet the planned talks on 2 March were abandoned after the attack.

Powell’s involvement in Geneva discussions partly explains the UK government’s hesitation to endorse the US strike on Iran. This reluctance has strained the UK-US relationship. The UK found no conclusive evidence of an immediate Iranian missile threat to Europe or of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. This marks the first time the depth of Britain’s participation in the talks has been publicly recognized, underscoring its rationale for considering the attack as premature.

The US and Israel’s attack followed the Geneva talks, which were mediated by Oman’s foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. Gulf diplomats remained vague about Powell’s access to the discussions, though his long-standing ties with the US, including his tenure as Tony Blair’s chief of staff, may have facilitated this involvement. UK officials later noted Iran’s willingness to commit to a permanent deal, unlike the 2015 agreement, which included sunset clauses limiting programme restrictions.