17.02.2026 17:11
The second round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, mediated by Oman and held in Geneva, Switzerland, has concluded. After the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Arakchi stated, "We have agreed on fundamental principles with the United States. The parties will work on documents related to a possible agreement and will share them with each other."
Indirect talks were held between Iran and the USA through Oman, involving the exchange of messages. Participants left the residence of the Omani Embassy without making a statement after approximately 2.5 hours of discussions.
"WE AGREED ON BASIC PRINCIPLES"
Iran's Foreign Minister Arakchi made his first statement after the meeting with the USA. In his statement to state media, Arakchi said that the talks had made "good progress" compared to the previous round.
Arakchi stated that both sides agreed to work on draft texts for a possible agreement and to determine the date of the next round after mutual review of the texts. He added that both sides had positions that would take time to reconcile, emphasizing that they had agreed on basic principles.
TALKS MOVED TO EUROPE
After the diplomatic process, which was interrupted due to the attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran in June 2025 and the 12-day war, the parties moved the talks to Europe following the first round held in Oman's capital Muscat.
In the Geneva talks, the Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi, while the USA was represented by Steve Witkoff, the Special Representative for the Middle East of President Donald Trump.
Trump's advisor Jared Kushner was also part of the US delegation. The talks were conducted under the coordination of Oman's Foreign Minister Bedr bin Hamed al-Busaidi.
During the Geneva meetings, Arakchi and Witkoff separately met with Omani Foreign Minister Busaidi.
In the Arakchi-Busaidi meeting, it was noted that Iran's views and thoughts on nuclear issues and the lifting of sanctions were discussed. The Iranian Minister conveyed to his Omani counterpart that Iran is determined to use result-oriented diplomacy to secure its legitimate interests and rights and to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Omani Foreign Minister Busaidi expressed appreciation for Iran's determination in diplomatic efforts and hoped that this round of talks would be successful.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry reported that at this stage of the negotiations, technical, legal, and economic experts were also part of the Iranian negotiation team and that Iran was focused on the lifting of economic sanctions.
URANIUM AS A CORE DISAGREEMENT ISSUE
Issues such as uranium enrichment and the removal of high-level enriched uranium from Iran continue to be the core disagreement between the parties.
Iran demands the lifting of sanctions in exchange for continuing its nuclear program within the framework of limitations that would prevent the production of atomic bombs. The USA, on the other hand, wants Iran to completely halt its uranium enrichment activities and to remove the stock of high-level enriched uranium from Iran.
The US administration also wants to bring Iran's missile program and its support for armed groups in the region to the negotiation agenda, while the Tehran administration reiterates that it will not discuss issues outside of the nuclear program.
The US administration has so far signaled that the talks are progressing through the nuclear program. Meanwhile, Israel is also urging the US administration to address the conditions of ending the nuclear program, limiting missile capabilities, and cutting support for armed groups.
Despite the negotiation process, the US continues its military buildup in the region, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is conducting exercises against "security threats" in the Strait of Hormuz.
Minister Arakchi is expected to speak at the UN at 3:00 PM local time.
NEGOTIATION PROCESS BETWEEN THE USA AND IRAN
The nuclear negotiations between Iran and the USA, which were interrupted by the attacks of Israel and the USA on Iran in June 2025, were revitalized through the initiatives of regional countries, especially Turkey, and the mediation of Oman.
The parties met in Oman on February 6 for indirect negotiations and agreed to continue the contacts.
In the meetings held in Oman's capital Muscat, the delegations were in the same venue but in separate rooms, and messages were conveyed through Omani officials.
In the first round in Muscat, although the parties did not reach an agreement, they agreed to keep the negotiation channels open and to initiate technical-level work. The discussions particularly highlighted the rate of Iran's uranium enrichment and the status of the stock of high-level enriched uranium.