Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is scheduled to meet with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi in Geneva on Monday, February 16, 2026, one day before a second round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, according to a statement released by Araqchi.
The meeting with Grossi will include nuclear experts and will focus on technical discussions related to monitoring and verification, a critical component of any potential agreement. The renewed negotiations reach amid heightened military tensions in the region, with the U.S. Deploying additional warships, including a second aircraft carrier, to the area.
Araqchi stated he arrived in Geneva with “real ideas” for a fair agreement, and emphasized Iran’s unwillingness to concede to pressure. The scope of the talks remains a key point of contention. While Washington is seeking to broaden the negotiations to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional security concerns, Tehran insists the discussions must be limited to nuclear limits in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran continues to assert its sovereign right to uranium enrichment, rejecting demands for its complete cessation.
Previous negotiations stalled due to U.S. Demands that Iran abandon domestic enrichment, a position Washington maintains is aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability. The resumption of talks follows strikes conducted by the U.S. And Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, an action that has further complicated diplomatic efforts.
Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s atomic energy organization, recently stated that if Iranian nuclear sites have been destroyed, the IAEA would have no justification for continued oversight. Eslami as well accused the IAEA of adopting politicized positions and urged the agency to adhere strictly to its statutory mandate.
In November 2025, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi briefed the Board of Governors on the Agency’s verification and monitoring activities in Iran, and again in September 2025. These briefings followed a statement in September 2025 regarding an agreement with Araqchi on practical modalities to resume IAEA inspection activities within Iran. The IAEA reported to the UN Security Council in June 2025, warning that the nuclear non-proliferation regime was at risk.
The U.S. Has publicly stated its concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program and support for terrorist proxies. U.S. Officials, as reported by Axios, have indicated that any potential agreement with Tehran would require the removal of all highly enriched uranium.
As of February 16, 2026, the outcome of the meeting between Araqchi and Grossi, and the subsequent nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, remain uncertain.
