Iran’s foreign minister provided an optimistic outlook following his negotiations with the United States in Geneva on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s talks were the second round of U.S.-Iranian talks in recent weeks as President Donald Trump simultaneously ordered more military firepower into the Middle East if the discussions devolve.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after the talks, “Various ideas were presented and discussed seriously. Ultimately, we were able to reach a general understanding on a set of guiding principles, on the basis of which we will move forward from now on and begin working on the text of a potential agreement. This does not mean that we can reach an agreement quickly, but at least the path has begun.”
The discussions revolve around Iran’s nuclear program, though the U.S. wants any new agreement to include additional provisions on other aspects of its military, which leaders in Tehran have refused so far. The extra demands from the U.S. pertain to limiting their ballistic missile arsenal as well as their support for proxy forces in the region, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and more.
“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” Trump said late Monday, saying he will remain indirectly involved in the discussions. “They want to make a deal.”
The U.S. delegation for the talks was led by Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and former foreign policy adviser during his first term.
The first round of talks was held in Oman on Feb. 6. No date has been announced for a third round of talks yet.
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In January, Trump warned that “help is on the way” in a message sent to Iranian protesters who had taken to the streets in protests nationwide in December and January. Yet the U.S. has not directly intervened despite the president’s threats to do so. Iran’s security forces cracked down on the protests, killing thousands.
More recently, Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, and the two leaders discussed the ongoing tension in the Middle East.
