Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the second round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States in Geneva on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as “more serious” and conducted in a “more constructive” atmosphere compared to the previous session. The talks, mediated by Oman, concluded with both sides agreeing on a set of guiding principles to serve as the foundation for drafting a potential agreement.
Speaking to reporters after the approximately three-and-a-half-hour meeting at the Omani Embassy in Geneva, Araghchi stated that the parties had reached a “general agreement on some guiding principles” following detailed discussions of various ideas. “It was decided that both sides will work on the drafts of a potential agreement, and after exchanging the texts, the timing of the next round of talks will be determined,” he said.
Araghchi emphasized that a “clear path now lies ahead” for the negotiations, which Iran assesses positively. However, he cautioned against expectations of a swift resolution, noting: “Progress in talks does not mean a quick agreement has been reached, but the negotiation process has started, and good progress has been made.” He stressed that both sides hold positions that will require time to bridge, adding that no specific date has been set for the next round and it is premature to speak of a detailed roadmap.
The Iranian delegation, led by Araghchi, included experts in nuclear, legal, and economic matters. The US side was headed by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner. Delegations met separately with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who facilitated the exchange of notes and proposals.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that discussions centered on sanctions removal and technical aspects of the nuclear file. UN nuclear agency chief Rafael Grossi was present in Geneva, holding separate meetings with both delegations to provide input on verification and safeguards issues.
Omani Foreign Minister Albusaidi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the talks concluded with “good progress towards identifying common goals and relevant technical issues.” He described the discussions as “constructive,” commended the “serious efforts” by both parties to define guiding principles for a final deal, and thanked Grossi for his contributions while noting that “much work is yet to be done” before the next meeting.
This second round follows the first indirect talks held in Muscat, Oman, earlier in February 2026—marking the resumption of diplomacy more than eight months after negotiations were suspended following the Iran-Israel war in June 2025. Iranian state media, including IRNA, reported that the Geneva session was “very serious,” with some general issues agreed upon and a decision to continue detailed discussions after consultations with respective capitals.
The talks occur amid heightened regional tensions, including US military buildups in the Middle East and Iran's recent large-scale maritime exercises, including a temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire drills on the same day. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful and insists negotiations focus solely on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief, excluding topics like ballistic missiles or regional proxy activities.
US officials, speaking anonymously, described the discussions as making “progress” but highlighted that significant details remain unresolved. They indicated expectations for Iran to submit detailed proposals within the next two weeks to address open gaps in positions.
The developments follow threats exchanged between US President Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, underscoring the high stakes. Despite the cautious optimism, both sides acknowledge that bridging differences—particularly on sanctions lifting, enrichment limits, and verification—will be challenging.
As delegations return to their capitals, the focus shifts to drafting and exchanging initial texts. Analysts view the agreement on guiding principles as a modest but meaningful step forward in reviving diplomacy after years of impasse since the US withdrawal from the 2015 JCPOA in 2018.
With no firm date for round three, the coming weeks will test whether momentum can be sustained amid ongoing geopolitical pressures in the region.
