Geneva: The new round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States has commenced in Geneva, facilitated by Omani mediation. This development unfolds amid warnings from US President Donald Trump about strengthening the US military presence in the Middle East.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the discussions were preceded by meetings on Monday between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Badr Al Busaidi, who plays a key role in mediating these indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Araghchi also held discussions with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, focusing on the technical aspects of Iran's nuclear program prior to the indirect talks with the US side.
Media reports yesterday indicated that US President Donald Trump announced his indirect participation in the Geneva talks, expressing his belief that Tehran is inclined towards reaching a deal, while also cautioning about the repercussions of failing to do so. On his official account on X, Araghchi confirmed Tehran's commitment to achieving an agreement with the United States, emphasizing that he brings "real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal" and rejecting pressure and threats as a means to extract concessions.
The US delegation is led by President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Advisor Jared Kushner. This round of talks follows the initial discussions that took place on February 6 in Muscat, where the Iranian and US delegations exchanged views via the Omani mediator, describing the dialogue as "positive." Additionally, Geneva is set to host another round of trilateral talks on Ukraine between the US, Russia, and Ukraine, aimed at exploring opportunities to reduce tensions between the parties.
These talks are occurring without the involvement of European countries, whose relations with the Trump administration have been characterized by noticeable tension.