U.S. and Iran resume nuclear talks
Delegations meet in Geneva as sides seek progress on sanctions and nuclear commitments
Iran’s delegation to indirect talks with the United States submitted a proposal intended to remove U.S. pretexts concerning Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program, Iranian state media reported, warning that a U.S. rejection would reinforce suspicions in Tehran that Washington is not serious about diplomacy. The third round of indirect Iran–U.S. negotiations, mediated by Oman at its Geneva embassy, convened with attendance from senior figures including Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi also participated in technical consultations.
Omani officials relayed Iran’s proposal to the U.S. side, though details were not publicly disclosed. Iranian spokespeople said their team included specialists on nuclear, legal, sanctions and economic matters and that negotiators were prepared to continue talks as needed. Araghchi later described the round as one of the most serious and lengthy to date, reporting roughly six to seven hours of discussions and saying the parties had narrowed gaps on several elements of a possible deal covering nuclear commitments and sanctions relief.
Araghchi said technical teams at the IAEA in Vienna would begin detailed reviews to align technical arrangements with political terms, and that a fourth round of talks was expected soon, likely within about a week. Delegations paused sessions to consult with their capitals after intensive negotiations.
Iran asserted it had outlined specific expectations on which U.S. sanctions should be lifted and the process for addressing UN Security Council matters. Iranian officials also criticized media speculation and alleged outside influence from actors aligned with Israel and hardline U.S. factions seeking to sway American policymakers. The talks resumed nearly eight months after previous negotiations were disrupted by regional tensions; both sides signaled cautious progress while noting remaining disagreements to be resolved in upcoming sessions.
