Iran's foreign minister in Geneva for Omani-mediated talks ahead of US negotiations

2026-02-25 - 20:42

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Wednesday to lead his country's delegation in Thursday's round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States, local media reported. Prior to the talks, Araghchi is scheduled to meet with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, whose country has served as mediator between Tehran and Washington throughout the diplomatic process. Delegation Composition According to state news agency IRNA, Araghchi heads a high-level team including Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi, nuclear and legal experts, and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, who addressed the Geneva Disarmament Forum on Monday. The American side will again be represented by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, maintaining continuity from previous rounds. Positive Momentum Tasnim News Agency reported that Araghchi's pre-talks meeting with his Omani counterpart will serve to outline "Tehran's positions on sanctions relief and nuclear issues." The upcoming session follows two previous rounds of Omani-mediated talks—the first in Muscat and the second in Geneva—after which both sides offered positive assessments. Iranian negotiators stated that the parties agreed on "guiding principles" that could potentially pave the way toward a final agreement. Military and Diplomatic Context The negotiations occur against a backdrop of significant US military buildup in the Persian Gulf region and recent drills by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Despite heightened tensions, diplomatic efforts continue, with regional countries including Türkiye working to facilitate dialogue. President Trump has warned of military action if a deal is not reached within days, lending urgency to Thursday's discussions as both sides seek to determine whether the constructive atmosphere of previous rounds can translate into concrete progress toward resolving the nuclear standoff.