The second round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States has commenced at the Omani consulate general in Geneva, with discussions focused exclusively on the nuclear issue and the lifting of illegal US sanctions.
Geneva Hosts Fresh Round of Iran-US Talkshttps://t.co/LMsSzaeuxG pic.twitter.com/RJnyM8toVT
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) February 17, 2026
Ahead of Tuesday’s talks, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that the agenda would mirror the February 6 round in Muscat, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi continuing to facilitate the exchange of messages between the two delegations.
Speaking in an interview with IRNA, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said: Negotiations with the US are very serious, and we have entered into a series of dettails on the lifting of sanctions and the nuclear issue. pic.twitter.com/vKfqSze38A
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) February 17, 2026
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is leading the Iranian delegation, accompanied by senior officials including his deputies for political, legal, and economic affairs, along with technical and legal experts. The delegation underscores Tehran’s position that the preservation of its peaceful uranium enrichment program remains a non-negotiable principle.
Hours before arriving in Geneva, Araghchi made clear on social media that “submission under threats” was completely off the table for Tehran, adding that he had brought “real ideas” aimed at reaching a fair and balanced agreement.
Pre-Talks Diplomacy
On Monday, Araghchi held discussions with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), addressing technical issues related to Iran’s cooperation with the agency within the safeguards framework. The talks also covered Iran’s parliamentary law conditioning such cooperation on the realization of the country’s rights, including the safety of its nuclear facilities.
Araghchi also met with his Omani counterpart in Geneva, presenting Iran’s key negotiating points within the framework of the country’s diplomatic strategy. The foreign minister’s broader Geneva agenda includes addressing the Disarmament Conference and holding additional diplomatic meetings.
Regional Context
The negotiations follow the resumption of indirect contacts in February and come against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions. Recent US military deployments to the region, including additional naval assets and personnel, have drawn sharp responses from Tehran.
In late January, US President Donald Trump warned of consequences “far worse” than previous strikes on Iranian facilities should diplomatic efforts fail. Tehran has responded by emphasizing its readiness to decisively counter any military adventurism, citing its ballistic missile response to past attacks on regional assets.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)