Iran and the United States made what Tehran described as "good progress" in a third round of indirect, Oman-mediated talks in Geneva, Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on February 26. The session, held at Oman's diplomatic mission in the Swiss city, ran in two stages with a multi-hour break and was led on the Iranian side by Araghchi; U.S. negotiators included special envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Araghchi called the meeting one of the most serious and longest of the nuclear-related discussions to date, saying delegates reached "deep understanding" on many points even as significant differences remain.
Central to Tehran's account was a clear, reiterated demand that sanctions against Iran be lifted as part of any agreement. The two sides agreed to reconvene with technical teams in Vienna on March 2 to begin detailed technical discussions and reviews, and both delegations will consult with their governments before a fourth round, expected within a week. The talks follow two earlier indirect rounds this month in Muscat and Geneva, underscoring Oman's continuing role as intermediary between the estranged parties.
The format — indirect, mediated talks rather than direct U.S.–Iran negotiations — underlines the political sensitivities on both sides. Washington continues to rely on intermediaries to avoid domestic political blowback and diplomatic normalization, while Tehran needs cover to show it is negotiating from a position of principle, particularly on sanctions relief. The presence of high-profile U.S. figures such as Kushner signals Washington's intent to pursue results through a small, politically connected negotiating team rather than through traditional arms of U.S. foreign policy.
Technically focused follow-up discussions in Vienna will be an important litmus test. They signal a shift from broad political statements toward verification, sequencing and implementation details: how quickly sanctions might be eased, what nuclear activities Iran may be permitted, and what inspections and monitoring arrangements would be acceptable to both sides. Those issues have historically been the most difficult to resolve because they require simultaneous movement on trust, legal design and domestic politics in multiple capitals.
Regionally, even incremental progress between Washington and Tehran will be watched closely by U.S. partners, especially Israel and Gulf Arab states, which fear that sanctions relief could enhance Iran's regional influence and military budgets. Conversely, a credible path to sanctions relief could moderate Iranian behavior and reduce the risk of episodic escalation, offering potential stabilizing effects for oil markets and regional security calculations.
For the international community, the talks represent an attempt to convert political momentum into technical deliverables. The next phase in Vienna will determine whether the dialogue can move beyond confidence-building rhetoric toward a negotiated package that addresses verification and sequencing. Given the complexity and the domestic constraints facing both governments, the ultimate outcome remains uncertain, but the willingness to schedule technical meetings suggests both sides see value in pressing forward.