UK Security Adviser Attended US-Iran Nuclear Talks, Judged Deal Could Prevent War

Britain's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, attended the final talks between the US and Iran and judged that the offer made by Tehran on its nuclear programme was significant enough to prevent a rush to war

Powell thought progress had been made in Geneva in late February and that the deal proposed by Iran was 'surprising'

Two days after the talks ended, and after a date had been agreed for a further round of technical talks in Vienna, the US and Israel launched the attack on Iran

Powell's presence at the talks, and his close knowledge of the negotiations, suggests a diplomatic solution was within reach before military action was taken