The third round, which began Thursday morning in Geneva, ended after several hours of indirect discussions between the delegations. Although no final agreement was announced, both the Omani mediator and the Iranian delegation described it as one of the most serious and longest rounds of talks so far, with clear signs of “significant progress.”
In this context, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said after the talks concluded: “We had the most serious and longest discussions, and good progress was achieved.” Emphasizing that in some areas positions have moved closer to mutual understanding, he stated that on the nuclear file and sanctions relief, agreement has been reached on certain points, while differences remain on others. Araghchi added, “In the area of sanctions relief, we clearly laid out our expectations,” noting that after consultations in the respective capitals, a fourth round of talks will be held next week.
At the same time, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, who is serving as mediator, announced: “After a day of notable progress in the negotiations between the United States and Iran, we concluded the talks and will soon resume them following consultations in the respective capitals.” According to him, the continuation of discussions at the level of technical experts will take place in Vienna, the city that hosts the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Substantively, CNN, citing an informed Iranian source, reported that the negotiations between Iran and the United States are “serious,” and that Tehran has once again emphasized it will never pursue nuclear weapons. According to the source, the full lifting of U.S. sanctions and United Nations Security Council resolutions is a key condition for any potential agreement. The source also stressed that “no facilities or equipment will be dismantled,” since all are registered and under the supervision of the Agency.
The source added that in the area of enrichment, Iran insists on its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including enrichment and fuel production based on practical needs and under full verification. Enriched materials will not be transferred out of the country, and any potential steps, including dilution, would take place solely inside Iran. This position reflects the consolidation of Tehran’s red lines in this round of negotiations.
In Washington, Robert Malley, referring to the experience of the JCPOA, stated that if the U.S. objective is to reach a tangible and more restrictive agreement, that may be achievable; however, if the goal is defined as “something entirely different,” the process will not succeed. His remarks reflect Washington’s oscillation between maximalist demands and the technical and political realities of the negotiations.
Meanwhile, media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal have reported that Tehran is seeking the complete exclusion of the missile issue from the negotiations and will not accept any permanent limitations on its nuclear program—an account seen as aligned with Iran’s insistence that its defensive capabilities are non-negotiable. Economically, Reuters reported that oil prices fell following the announcement of progress in the talks, indicating that global markets are taking seriously the prospect of continued dialogue and reduced tensions.
On the ground, as the Geneva talks concluded, Israel announced airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in the Baalbek area of Lebanon, claiming to have targeted several camps affiliated with the Radwan Unit. The significance of these strikes lies in the expansion of operations deeper into Lebanese territory—an action observers view as more than a purely military message. Rather, it is seen as an attempt to exert indirect pressure on the diplomatic environment and to send a deterrent signal concurrent with progress in the nuclear negotiations. In security circles, the possibility of a retaliatory response by Hezbollah if this trend continues has also been raised—a scenario that could push the region’s fragile equations into a more high-risk phase.
The coming week is also assessed as decisive from both diplomatic and security perspectives. The meeting of the Board of Governors in Vienna, Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel, and the review of a war powers resolution concerning Iran in the U.S. House of Representatives together create a set of variables that could directly affect the atmosphere of the technical negotiations. The intersection of these developments with escalating field pressure suggests that the fate of the talks will be shaped not only at the negotiating table, but also by developments on the ground and political decisions in the week ahead.
NOURNEWS