Version 3 Iran-US Talks Produce Framework Agreement Amid Rising Regional Tensions

Diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington moved cautiously forward on Tuesday as a second round of indirect talks in Geneva yielded what Iran described as an agreed framework of “guiding principles.” The talks, conducted through Omani intermediaries, are part of a broader effort to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions and avert a potential military escalation.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Foreign Minister Araghchi, said the session — lasting about three and a half hours — was markedly more productive than the first round held on February 6. He noted that draft texts would now be exchanged between the two sides ahead of a potential third meeting scheduled in roughly two weeks.
The nuclear file remains deeply complex. Iran has enriched uranium to 60% purity — far beyond what is needed for civilian reactors — and the US has demanded that Tehran abandon domestic enrichment entirely. Iran has rejected this demand outright, framing it as an attack on its sovereign right to nuclear energy.
Adding to the complexity, recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites have left the extent of damage unclear even to IAEA inspectors, raising questions about verification and the pace of any potential enrichment suspension. A small team of IAEA inspectors remains in Iran but lacks full access to damaged facilities.
The diplomatic backdrop is fraught. Khamenei publicly threatened US naval vessels near Oman, and Iran announced military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz. Inside Iran, thousands of protesters and reformist politicians have been arrested, with reports of forced confessions and denial of legal representation.