(Reuters) – Iran and the United States reached agreement on key “guiding principles” at the second round of nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday, but there is still work to be done, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said.
The progress does not mean an agreement will be reached soon, but the path has already been started, he told Iranian media after the negotiations ended.
Iranian state media earlier reported that Iran would temporarily close part of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil supplies, as it holds talks over its nuclear program with the United States, which has sent a combat force to the Gulf region to pressure Tehran into concessions.
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US President Donald Trump said “regime change” in Tehran could be the best thing that could happen, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that any US attempt to overthrow his government would fail.
As talks began in Geneva, Iranian state media reported that parts of the strategic strait would be closed for a few hours due to “security precautions” while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard carried out military exercises there.
Tehran had previously threatened to close the strait to commercial shipping if it was attacked, a move that would block a fifth of global oil flows and drive up crude oil prices.
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Alongside Araqchi, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated in the talks in Geneva, which were being mediated by Oman, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters.
