Iran delivers nuclear proposals to US as Geneva talks open

2026-02-26 - 10:42

Iran has conveyed its views and proposals to the United States through Omani mediators as the third round of indirect nuclear talks opened in Geneva on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced. Speaking from the Swiss city where he is accompanying the Iranian delegation, Baghaei confirmed that discussions began with a meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Oman late Wednesday, setting the stage for the latest diplomatic engagement. Draft Proposal as Litmus Test The draft proposal, based on guiding principles agreed upon in the previous round of negotiations, was submitted to the American side through Omani intermediaries. A reporter from state news agency IRNA accompanying the Iranian delegation described the proposal as a "practical test to assess the seriousness of the United States" amid heightened tensions. Baghaei emphasized that positions should be raised "in the negotiation room, not in the media," and that the Iranian delegation has entered talks with "full preparedness" accompanied by experts in all relevant fields to secure national interests. Delegation Composition and International Presence Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi leads the Iranian delegation, accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi and a team of nuclear, legal, and economic experts. The American delegation is again led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi is also expected to join the course of the talks. Following his arrival in Geneva, Witkoff met with the Omani foreign minister to exchange notes and discuss the Iranian draft. Focus and Stakes Araghchi emphasized that success requires "seriousness from the other side" and refraining from "contradictory behaviour and positions." The negotiations focus on both sanctions relief and nuclear-related matters. The talks proceed against a backdrop of significant US military buildup in the Persian Gulf and recent Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps drills, with President Trump having warned of military action if a deal is not reached. Iran's submission of a concrete proposal now tests whether Washington's stated preference for diplomacy can translate into agreement before the window for negotiation closes.