Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States have made “good progress”, as Washington reiterated that military action remains an option if diplomacy collapses.
The latest round of talks, mediated by Oman, took place Tuesday in Geneva, amid heightened military posturing by both sides in the Gulf region.
Agreement on “guiding principles”
Speaking to Iranian state television after the meeting, Araghchi said both sides had reached a broad understanding on key principles that will shape the next phase of negotiations.
“Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a potential agreement,” he said.
He described the discussions as an improvement on the previous round held in Oman earlier this month, adding that negotiators now have a clearer framework for drafting a possible deal.
Still, Araghchi acknowledged that significant gaps remain.
“It will take time to narrow” the differences between the two countries, he said, explaining that each side will prepare draft texts before exchanging them and setting a date for a third round of talks.
Washington signals caution
In Washington, DC, US Vice President JD Vance indicated that diplomacy remains the preferred route, but stressed that the administration has firm conditions.
“In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News.
At the same time, he noted that President Donald Trump has set red lines that Tehran has yet to fully address.
“We’re going to keep on working it,” Vance said, adding that the president retains the authority to determine when diplomatic efforts have reached their limit.
A fragile diplomatic window
The renewed engagement comes at a tense moment, with both countries flexing military muscle in the Gulf while attempting to revive a diplomatic track.
For now, negotiators appear committed to testing whether a workable framework can emerge. But with key differences unresolved and pressure mounting on both sides, the path toward a formal agreement remains uncertain.
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