Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday for a second and crucial round of nuclear talks with the United States. This round follows up on the diplomatic efforts initiated by Oman, and the Iranian side is scheduled to meet with envoys of US President-elect Donald Trump, Steve Wittkopf and Jared Kushner, in an attempt to find common ground for de-escalation.
Intensive meetings with the International Atomic Energy Agency
In preparation for these talks, Araqchi is meeting today with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi . The meeting aims to discuss the latest technical and political developments related to Iran's nuclear program and ways to enhance cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA to ensure the transparency of nuclear activities, which is considered a fundamental pillar for any progress in political negotiations with the West.
Iran is prepared to make conditional concessions
In a significant development, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi expressed his country's readiness to make tangible concessions regarding its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. In a press statement, Ravanchi affirmed that Tehran is open to negotiating a limit on enrichment in exchange for a reciprocal step: the lifting of US sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy. He indicated that the success of this initiative depends entirely on "the sincerity of American intentions," emphasizing that an agreement is possible if Washington abandons its policy of maximum pressure.
Historical background: From agreement to withdrawal
These talks are particularly important given the complexities surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue since 2018, when the previous Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the 2015 nuclear agreement). That withdrawal led to the reimposition of harsh sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to gradually reduce its nuclear commitments and raise uranium enrichment levels to near-military-grade levels, a development that has alarmed the international community.
The strategic importance of the current talks
The second round of talks comes at a highly sensitive regional and international juncture. Regionally, countries in the region are striving to avoid any military escalation that could drag the Middle East into open war, and de-escalation on the nuclear issue is considered key to stability. Internationally, the world is watching to see whether the return of the Trump administration will mean a continuation of the pressure campaign or a shift towards new, pragmatic deals. The success of this round in Geneva could pave the way for the return of foreign investment to Iran and the stabilization of global energy markets, while its failure could lead to further tension and international isolation.
