The United States and Iran opened a third round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday, as both sides signaled cautious optimism about the possibility of narrowing differences over Tehran’s nuclear program.
According to Iranian state media, the talks resumed with Omani officials again serving as intermediaries between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Araghchi arrived in Geneva late Monday and met with Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, ahead of the formal discussions. Oman has played a key mediating role in the negotiations, relaying proposals and counterproposals between Washington and Tehran.
Oman’s state news agency reported that Araghchi and Albusaidi reviewed the views and proposals Iran intends to present, building on principles agreed to during the previous round of talks. Albusaidi is expected to convey Iran’s latest offer to U.S. officials during the Geneva meetings.
The renewed diplomacy comes amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities and lingering distrust between the two countries, which have had no formal diplomatic relations for decades.
In a sign of potential flexibility, Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, suggested that a swift agreement could be achieved if the negotiations focus narrowly on ensuring Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. He indicated that such an outcome would align with Iran’s declared defense doctrine and a religious edict issued by the country’s supreme leader prohibiting nuclear weapons.
Shamkhani also said Araghchi has sufficient authority and backing within Iran’s leadership to secure an agreement under those terms.
The structure of the talks — with Omani mediators shuttling between the two delegations — underscores both the sensitivity of the negotiations and the limited direct engagement between Washington and Tehran. While previous rounds established broad guiding principles, key details remain unresolved, including the scope of nuclear restrictions and potential sanctions relief.
U.S. officials have emphasized the need for verifiable commitments to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while Iranian leaders have insisted that their program is for peaceful purposes and have sought relief from economic sanctions.
Source: The Guardian