Despite escalating military posturing on both sides, Iran-US nuclear diplomacy survived its second test in Geneva on Tuesday, with both parties agreeing on a set of guiding principles that will frame future negotiations. The talks, conducted indirectly through Omani mediators, lasted about three and a half hours and ended with a commitment to continue the process.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, who led his country’s delegation, reported that the atmosphere was more constructive than the first round and that good progress had been achieved. He said draft texts would now be exchanged, and another meeting would follow in roughly two weeks to address the remaining substantive differences between the two sides.
The discussions centered on what constraints Iran might accept for its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from crushing US sanctions. Iran’s core offer included the dilution of its 60% enriched uranium stockpile and expanded IAEA oversight at nuclear sites damaged by American strikes. These were presented as meaningful gestures that demonstrated genuine intent to find a negotiated solution.
The US position remained more demanding. American negotiators reportedly insisted on a complete halt to domestic uranium enrichment — a demand Iran has consistently rejected — as well as comprehensive international verification. Iran offered robust verification while refusing to relinquish enrichment rights, leaving the two sides still some distance apart on the fundamental question.
The military dimension of the standoff cast a long shadow over the talks. Khamenei threatened US warships in the region, Iran’s navy announced live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US continued to expand its naval footprint in the Gulf. Domestically, Iran’s political situation remained turbulent, with thousands of protesters facing prosecution and the country still grieving casualties from recent demonstrations.