Araghchi says ‘Good Progress’ made in nuclear talks with US

KABUL (Pajhwok): Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, says “good progress” has been achieved in indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States, while US Vice President JD Vance has cautioned that Tehran has yet to accept all of Washington’s key conditions.

The talks, mediated by Oman and held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, were aimed at preventing potential US military action over Iran’s nuclear programme. The discussions come just weeks after a deadly crackdown on antigovernment protests in Iran, according to Al Jazeera.

Speaking to Iranian state television after the meeting, Araghchi said both sides had reached a broad understanding on guiding principles that would shape the next phase of negotiations.

“Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a potential agreement,” he said.

Araghchi described the outcome as “good progress” compared to an earlier round of talks held in Oman this month, adding that there is now “a clear path ahead,” which he called a positive development.

He explained that once both parties prepare draft texts, they will exchange them and set a date for a third round of negotiations.

In Washington, DC, Vice President Vance indicated that the United States remains open to diplomacy but offered a more cautious assessment.

“In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards,” Vance said during an interview on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum.”

“However, it was very clear that the president has established certain red lines that the Iranians are not yet prepared to acknowledge and address,” he added.

Vance stressed that discussions would continue but underscored that the president retains the authority to determine when diplomatic efforts have run their course.

sa