Iran and the US cite progress in Geneva nuclear talks but acknowledge key gaps remain, with Washington’s red lines unaddressed and military pressure ongoing.
GENEVA: Iran said it reached broad agreement with the United States on guiding principles for a potential deal to avoid conflict over its nuclear programme.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the Omani-mediated talks as “more constructive” than a previous round, stating both sides would now work on draft texts.
“In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards,” US Vice President JD Vance said in a television interview.
He added that it was clear Iran was “not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through” red lines set by President Donald Trump.
Araghchi acknowledged it “will take time to narrow” the gap between the countries after meeting US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the two sides made “good progress” but cautioned “much work is left to be done”.
Washington has maintained military pressure, positioning the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier within striking distance of Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the country could sink a US warship, calling that capability “even more dangerous”.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also began war games in the Strait of Hormuz to prepare for “potential security and military threats”.
Iran insists talks be limited to its nuclear issue, which President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated is “absolutely not seeking nuclear weapons”.
Analyst Ali Fathollah-Nejad said Iran faces an “existential dilemma” between needing sanctions relief and undermining its ideological standing.
The previous diplomatic attempt collapsed last year after Israel launched strikes, triggering a brief war where the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites.
