Jane Araf

Iran says no country would give up its defensive weapons.

Jane Araf, NPR News, Amman.

So Israel attacked Iran last June, and those were followed by U.S.

airstrikes just before scheduled negotiations.

So that obviously put a halt, a dramatic halt to those talks.

These ones now are an even bigger deal because of the U.S.

military buildup in the Middle East, the biggest since the U.S.

invaded Iraq in 2003.

So those U.S.

threats against Iran and the probable Iranian retaliation have raised what seems to be a very real risk of a wider war, and it has the entire region in a state of high alert.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to reporters late Wednesday.

He said he didn't know if today's talks were the key for a decision on military action, but he added this.

So in addition to uranium enrichment being discussed, the U.S.

is demanding that Iran give up ballistic weapons as well.

Sure.

The Amani foreign minister who's mediating the talks is going to relay the Iranian counter proposals that he received to the U.S.

delegation this morning.

That delegation is headed by Steve Witkoff, the billionaire real estate developer appointed by President Trump.

as his special Middle East envoy, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Arakji, said yesterday there was basis for some agreement with the U.S.