The third round of crucial talks between the United States and Iran began in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday (26), Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.
American and Iranian delegations arrived at the residence of the Omani ambassador recently.
The indirect talks, mediated by Oman, seek to address Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of sanctions relief, but both sides have expressed skepticism about the other’s intentions.
The two countries resumed talks this month, seeking to overcome a decades-long impasse over Iran’s nuclear program, which Washington, other Western countries and Israel believe is aimed at building nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this accusation.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, will participate in indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, an American official told Reuters news agency.
The meeting follows discussions held in Geneva last week and will again be mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday (24), Trump briefly outlined his arguments in favor of a possible attack on Iran, emphasizing that while he preferred a diplomatic solution, he would not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.
He has deployed fighter jets, aircraft carrier strike groups, as well as destroyers and cruisers to the region, hoping to pressure Iran into making concessions.
Although the talks focus on Iran’s nuclear program, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program is a “serious problem” that will have to be resolved eventually, as the missiles are “designed exclusively to target the United States” and pose a threat to regional stability.
Pressure inside and outside Iran
The United States has amassed a massive military force in the Middle East — its largest military deployments in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq — raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
In June last year, the US joined Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran has threatened to retaliate violently if attacked again.
Trump said on February 19 that Iran needs to reach a deal within 10 to 15 days, warning that otherwise “very bad things” would happen.
Oil prices rose slightly on Thursday as investors assessed whether U.S.-Iran talks could avert a military conflict that threatens to disrupt supplies, although gains were limited by rising U.S. crude inventories.
Saudi Arabia is increasing its oil production and exports as part of a contingency plan in case a US attack on Iran disrupts supplies from the Middle East, two sources said on Wednesday (25).
Araqchi stated on Tuesday (24) that his country seeks a fair and quick agreement, but reiterated that it will not give up its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Washington considers uranium enrichment in Iran a potential path to obtaining nuclear weapons.
“An agreement is within reach, but only if diplomacy is prioritized,” Araqchi said in a statement released by X.
With information from Reuters news agency
