Iran-US indirect talks: Tehran’s top diplomat travels to Geneva for second round – The Times of India

Iran’s international minister Abbas Araghchi left Tehran on Sunday for Geneva to participate within the second spherical of oblique nuclear negotiations with the US, Iranian state media reported, with AFP confirming the event.Araghchi “left Tehran for Geneva late Sunday heading a diplomatic and technical delegation to conduct the second spherical of nuclear talks and maintain numerous diplomatic consultations,” Iran’s international ministry mentioned in an announcement, in line with AFP. “Oblique Iran–US nuclear talks can be held on Tuesday with the mediation and good workplaces of Oman.”

The talks comply with an preliminary spherical held in Muscat on February 6, when Tehran and Washington resumed negotiations months after earlier efforts collapsed. These talks had damaged down after Israel launched a bombing marketing campaign towards Iran final June, triggering a 12-day battle that included US strikes on Iranian nuclear services.Oman is once more mediating the discussions. Throughout his Geneva go to, Araghchi is anticipated to fulfill his Swiss and Omani counterparts in addition to Rafael Grossi, head of the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company, and different worldwide officers, the international ministry mentioned. Switzerland has lengthy represented US pursuits in Iran since diplomatic ties have been severed following the 1980 hostage disaster.The renewed engagement comes amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that Washington might resort to navy motion if Tehran doesn’t curb its nuclear actions, and has deployed an plane provider group to the area following Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests final month. Iran has mentioned it could retaliate within the occasion of an assault, whereas Gulf Arab states have warned that escalation might spark a wider regional battle. These days, Tehran has additionally signalled it’d scale down its nuclear program if the US agrees to raise sanctions. The Trump administration maintains that Iran should halt all uranium enrichment – a requirement Tehran has rejected. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceable functions, although it has enriched uranium to 60% purity prior to now, near weapons-grade ranges.AFP reported that Araghchi led the Iranian delegation within the February 6 talks with US Center East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Muscat.Iranian deputy international minister Hamid Ghanbari was quoted by Fars information company as saying Tehran was in search of a deal that may generate financial advantages for each nations, together with in aviation, mining and oil and gasoline. “For the settlement to be viable, it’s important that the US additionally be capable to profit from it in areas with robust and speedy financial return potential,” he mentioned.(With inputs from companies)