The third round of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran in Geneva ended tonight, Feb. 26, without resolution. Neither side issued any immediate statements, but Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who mediated between the two delegations, put a positive spin on the talks. “We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran,” he said on X. “We will resume soon after consultation in the respective capitals. Discussions on a technical level will take place next week in Vienna.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, speaking to reporters in Geneva during a break in the talks, characterized the exchanges as serious. “Important and operational proposals were presented regarding nuclear issues and the lifting of sanctions,” he said, reported IRNA. “Both delegations needed to consult with their capitals.” He added that the negotiations have been conducted seriously and intensively since the morning, lasting three hours and involving the participation of the Omani Foreign Minister and Rafel Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Regarding the seriousness of the American side in the Geneva negotiations, Baqaei emphasized, “We are confident in ourselves. We must continue and see. This is a process.” He added: “Our negotiating behavior is completely clear, and we have shown total consistency; our positions align with our statements. However, we did not see the same consistency from the other side. The discussions held today were very serious,” he said, expressing hope that the ongoing talks tonight will have operable proposals and initiatives leading to continuation of the talks concerning the lifting of sanctions and nuclear matters.
Baqaei stressed that the topic of the discussion is solely Iran’s nuclear program and that Tehran is seeking the lifting of sanctions as a part of any deal. “The people of Iran have suffered greatly due to these unjust sanctions. Therefore, any agreement or understanding must prioritize the lifting of these sanctions,” he said.
