Iran’s FM heads to Geneva for second round of indirect nuclear talks with U.S.

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi heads to Geneva for a new round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States under Omani mediation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Tehran on Sunday for Geneva to take part in a second round of indirect negotiations with the United States, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said Araghchi is leading a diplomatic and technical delegation for the talks, which are scheduled for Tuesday and will be mediated by Oman.

The discussions will focus on Iran’s nuclear program.

While in Geneva, Araghchi is expected to meet his Swiss and Omani counterparts, as well as Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in addition to other international officials.

Talks Revived After Months of Stalemate

The Geneva meetings follow the resumption of negotiations in Muscat on February 6, marking the first diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington in months. Previous talks had collapsed after a 12-day conflict sparked by 'Israeli' military strikes on Iran last June.

The renewed diplomatic track comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions. Washington has warned Tehran of potential military action and deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the region following a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran last month.

During the Muscat talks, Araghchi headed the Iranian delegation, engaging indirectly with the U.S. team led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump.

Scope of the Negotiations

Iran has maintained that discussions must remain strictly limited to its nuclear program, which Western governments suspect is intended to develop a nuclear weapon, an allegation Tehran consistently denies.

U.S. and European officials, however, have indicated that any comprehensive agreement should also address Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for armed groups across the region that are hostile to 'Israel'.

Switzerland has long served as a diplomatic intermediary between the two countries. Since Washington severed ties with Tehran in 1980 following the hostage crisis that followed the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Bern has represented U.S. interests in Iran.

Economic Incentives at the Forefront

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Baeidinejad told the semi-official Fars News Agency that Tehran is seeking a deal that would generate economic benefits for both sides, particularly in aviation, mining, oil and gas.

“For an agreement to be sustainable, the United States must also benefit, especially in sectors capable of producing significant and swift economic returns,” he said.

As diplomats gather in Geneva, the outcome of the talks could determine whether months of escalating rhetoric give way to cautious progress, or further deepen an already volatile standoff.