The United States and Iran have begun a new round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva amid continued fears that failure to reach an agreement could escalate tensions into open conflict. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are participating in the talks alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi with diplomacy mediated by Oman. Washington’s aim is to reach a deal that would limit Tehran’s nuclear programme and reduce the risk of a broader confrontation. President Donald Trump said he would be involved indirectly in the negotiations and expressed belief that Iran “doesn’t want the consequences” of failing to strike a deal. However significant disagreements remain. Iran insists its nuclear activities are peaceful and wants sanctions relief in exchange for limits on enrichment while the U.S. has sought broader concessions including on ballistic missiles and other security concerns demands Tehran has so far rejected. The talks are unfolding under the shadow of a heavy military buildup: the U.S. has deployed substantial forces to the Middle East and Iran has carried out military drills near the Strait of Hormuz a strategic oil‑transit chokepoint briefly closing parts of the waterway. Oil markets reacted to these developments with prices moving on hopes of eased tensions after officials from both sides reported some progress on “guiding principles” to shape future negotiations though no concrete deal has been reached yet. This round of talks follows previous military and diplomatic clashes including air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and ongoing domestic unrest within Iran underscoring the delicate balance between diplomacy and the risk of wider conflict. Analysts say the outcome in Geneva could significantly influence not just U.S Iran relations but broader regional stability with the potential to either avert war or deepen geopolitical divisions if barriers to a deal persist.
