Iran-US Talks: Geneva Talks Produce Shared Principles as Both Sides Prepare Draft Texts

The second round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States ended Tuesday in Geneva with a procedurally significant outcome: both sides agreed to exchange draft agreement texts ahead of their next meeting, a step that marks the transition from preliminary discussions to substantive negotiation. Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi described the session as more productive than the first.
The talks, facilitated by Omani diplomats, lasted three and a half hours and covered Iran’s nuclear activities in considerable detail. The key proposals on the table included Iran’s offer to dilute its 40-kilogram stockpile of 60% enriched uranium — material that sits near the threshold for weapons use — and to expand the role of IAEA inspectors inside Iran.
Both sides had met separately with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in the days surrounding the talks, underscoring the central role of international verification in any prospective agreement. The IAEA currently maintains a small presence inside Iran but lacks the full access it would need to certify compliance with any nuclear deal.
The core disagreement persisted: Iran will not surrender its right to enrich uranium domestically, while the US will not accept a deal that preserves that right indefinitely and at scale. Both sides also differed on how long a suspension of enrichment activities might last, with the damage done to Iranian nuclear infrastructure by recent US strikes creating both practical and political complications.
The regional environment remained charged. The US naval buildup near Oman continued, and Khamenei’s public threats toward American vessels raised concerns about the risks of miscalculation. Inside Iran, meanwhile, the 40th-day memorial services for protest victims drew enormous crowds, and the prosecution of thousands of demonstrators cast a shadow over the diplomatic proceedings in Switzerland.