Iran-US Talks: Both Sides Agree on Principles as Nuclear Deal Talks Move to Next Stage

A second round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States ended Tuesday with both sides having agreed on a foundational set of principles, according to Iranian officials. The talks, held indirectly through Oman’s mediation in Geneva, marked the most substantive diplomatic engagement between the two countries on the nuclear issue in years.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said the atmosphere was notably more positive than the opening round held on February 6, and confirmed that both delegations were now moving toward the exchange of draft texts — a step that suggests the talks are entering a more concrete phase. A further meeting was expected in about two weeks.
The session covered the range of issues that have defined nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West for years: enrichment levels, stockpile management, IAEA access, and verification protocols. Iran’s offer to downblend its 40 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium and allow broader IAEA oversight was at the center of the discussions.
The major unresolved issue remained Iran’s domestic enrichment rights. The US has insisted that Iran abandon enrichment on its own soil entirely, while Tehran has made equally clear that this is a sovereign right it will not surrender. Both sides also differed on how long any enrichment suspension might last, in part because US bombing of Iranian nuclear infrastructure makes the practical timeline uncertain.
In the background, the situation in Iran itself remained tense. Khamenei delivered defiant remarks directed at American naval forces in the region, while Iran’s judiciary confirmed that more than 10,000 people connected to the recent protests had been summoned for trial. The contrast between cautious diplomatic progress and domestic repression remained stark.