Indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States regarding Tehran’s nuclear program resumed in Geneva on Thursday, with Oman acting as mediator. The talks are being widely described as a final diplomatic opportunity to avert potential conflict, as the U.S. Has increased its military presence in the region.
Oman’s Foreign Ministry announced that the discussions had yielded “significant progress” and would continue after consultations within both governments, according to Reuters. Further technical discussions are scheduled to grab place in Vienna next week, at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), AFP reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the talks had made a “exceptionally good advancement,” focusing seriously on elements of a potential agreement concerning both the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions, as reported by Iranian state television. He indicated that another round of negotiations could commence within a week.
While Oman’s Foreign Minister Badar Albusaidi publicly expressed optimism, initial reports from Axios indicated a degree of American frustration with the Iranian position during the early stages of the discussions. The report, citing unnamed sources, suggested that U.S. Delegates, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were initially disappointed. Axios later reported, also citing anonymous sources, that Washington ultimately viewed the conversations positively, though the U.S. Administration has yet to issue an official statement.
A core point of contention remains the scope of the negotiations. The U.S. Is demanding complete cessation of Iran’s uranium enrichment, as well as addressing its ballistic missile program and support for regional armed groups. Iran, however, insists that discussions be limited to its nuclear program, maintaining that its nuclear activities are exclusively for peaceful purposes.
The situation is further complicated by increasingly assertive rhetoric from the U.S. Regarding potential military action. While the precise nature of any potential strike remains unclear, concerns are growing in the Middle East that it could escalate into a wider regional conflict. Reports suggest that Iran has warned that any U.S. Attack would be met with retaliation targeting all American military bases in the region.
In a demonstration of force, the U.S. Navy dispatched its largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, from Crete towards the eastern Mediterranean, reportedly nearing the coast of northern Israel as of Friday. Reuters and the Associated Press reported that the U.S. Has deployed ten F-22 fighter jets to Israel. The U.S. Has also reportedly increased the number of combat and other military aircraft stationed at bases throughout the Middle East, potentially signaling preparations for military action.
