Switzerland says Oman to host US-Iran talks in Geneva next week

• Switzerland confirmed that Oman will host high-stakes talks between the US and Iran in Geneva next week, following recent indirect meetings in Muscat involving US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
• While pushing for a nuclear deal to follow the June 2025 strikes, President Trump has simultaneously escalated pressure by calling for "regime change" and deploying a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East.

Switzerland said Saturday that Oman would host talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva next week, with Washington pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme.

"Switzerland stands ready at all times to offer its good offices to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran, a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP.

"Oman will host talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva next week. Switzerland welcomes and supports these talks." The spokesman did not give the day of the talks.

On February 6, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held discussions in Oman with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

The talks were indirect, with Omani officials acting as mediators.

Trump recently underscored the need to reach an agreement over Iran’s nuclear program, which was targeted by US strikes in June during ‘Israel’s’ war with the Islamic Republic.

On Friday, Trump said regime change in Iran would be “the best thing” that could happen, after ordering the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, escalating military pressure on Tehran.

Switzerland has long represented US interests in Iran, as diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran have been severed for decades.

The Swiss embassy in Tehran manages consular affairs between the two countries, including passport applications, civil status changes, and consular protection for US citizens in Iran.

Parallel Ukraine war talks

Geneva is also set to host talks next week between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine, aimed at advancing efforts to resolve the war between Moscow and Kyiv.

The discussions are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Geneva, according to announcements by Moscow and Kyiv, marking a new round in protracted negotiations to end a war that enters its fourth year this month.

Trump has led US efforts to halt the conflict. However, two previous US-sponsored rounds in Abu Dhabi failed to yield any signs of a breakthrough.