Iran, US Make Progress in ‘Longest, Most Serious’ Indirect Talks, Closer to Potential Agreement

Geneva: Iran and the United States have reportedly moved closer to an agreement on certain issues following what Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described as one of the “best, most serious, and longest” rounds of indirect talks to date.

Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s negotiations in Geneva, Araghchi said the session lasted nearly six hours, with four hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. The discussions were mediated by Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, while IAEA Director Rafael Grossi relayed technical points between the two sides.

“During these long and very intensive hours, good progress was achieved, and we entered a serious review of the elements of an agreement, both in the nuclear field and on sanctions,” Araghchi said. He added that while disagreements remain, both sides are demonstrating greater seriousness in reaching a negotiated solution.

Technical teams at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna are scheduled to begin detailed reviews on Monday to address specific technical issues within a structured framework, aligning them with the political requirements of both sides. Araghchi noted that the next round of talks is expected to occur within a week.

Regarding sanctions, Iran clarified its expectations, including which US sanctions should be lifted and the procedural steps related to issues raised at the UN Security Council. The foreign minister emphasized that these matters will be examined in greater detail in the upcoming session.

Speaking to Press TV, Araghchi described the talks as “very intensive and constructive” and said they were able to define the main elements of a potential deal. “Of course, differences remain, but in most cases, we have a general understanding of how to resolve these questions,” he added.

This third round of indirect Iran-US negotiations resumed after nearly eight months, following the derailment of previous talks due to unprovoked Israeli attacks on Iran last June. The discussions continue to be conducted indirectly under Omani mediation.