Oman has once again proven its value as a trusted diplomatic intermediary, shepherding the second round of Iran-US nuclear talks to a constructive conclusion in Geneva on Tuesday. Iranian officials reported agreement on guiding principles and a shared commitment to move forward toward a more detailed negotiation — a result that owes much to Omani patience and discretion.
Foreign Minister Araghchi described the session as more productive than the first round and said both sides would now exchange draft texts ahead of a follow-up meeting in roughly two weeks. He acknowledged that significant gaps remained between the two delegations but expressed confidence that the path toward an agreement had been opened.
The talks addressed the core technical and political issues of any nuclear deal: Iran’s enrichment activities, its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, IAEA verification rights, and the scope and duration of any constraints Iran might accept. Iran offered to dilute its 60% enriched uranium and cooperate more fully with inspectors — proposals framed as substantial and sincere.
The US continued to press for a complete halt to domestic enrichment and comprehensive IAEA access, while Iran maintained that enrichment rights were non-negotiable. Neither side’s ballistic missile activities or regional military relationships were on the agenda, with Iran having made clear from the outset that these issues were beyond the scope of the negotiations.
Beyond the conference room, the strategic landscape remained fraught. US naval forces expanded their presence in the region, and Iran’s Supreme Leader issued public threats toward those same forces. At home, Iran was in mourning, with mass ceremonies for protesters killed in recent unrest and a judiciary processing tens of thousands of related cases — a backdrop that lent urgency to the talks even as it complicated the broader political picture.
