Indirect talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme have ended in Geneva without a deal but with both sides reporting limited progress and plans to meet again soon.
Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who mediated the discussions, said negotiators exchanged “creative and positive ideas” and agreed to resume talks after consulting their capitals, with technical meetings scheduled in Vienna next week. He described the day as one of “significant progress” but gave no details on whether the main sticking points had been resolved.
The talks, held separately between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are widely seen as a last chance to avoid possible US military strikes, amid a major American buildup of warships and jets near Iran.
Araqchi told Iranian state TV that the negotiations were “intense and serious”. He said the two sides reached agreement on some issues but still disagree on others, and confirmed that Iran reiterated its demand for US sanctions to be lifted in return for nuclear steps.
A senior Iranian official said a framework deal is possible if Washington separates nuclear matters from non nuclear disputes, such as Iran’s regional activities and ballistic missiles. Iran insists it will not discuss its missile programme at this stage.
Washington, which believes Iran wants the capability to build a nuclear weapon, is pushing for Tehran to give up all uranium enrichment, while Iran says it will show flexibility but wants recognition of its right to peaceful nuclear technology.
The diplomacy is playing out against the backdrop of a large US military deployment and repeated warnings from President Donald Trump that “really bad things” will happen if there is no deal within days.
Trump has already joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites and says he will not allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear bomb, even as Iran’s leadership warns any new attack will trigger fierce retaliation that could ignite a wider regional war.
Inside Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei faces mounting pressure from a sanctions hit economy and renewed street protests after a deadly crackdown in January. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Khamenei has issued a religious ban on weapons of mass destruction, which he argued clearly means Iran will not develop nuclear arms.
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