The United States and Iran are set to resume diplomatic talks on Thursday in Geneva, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed Sunday. The announcement came shortly after Tehran’s top diplomat indicated he expects to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff during the discussions.
Al-Busaidi expressed optimism on social media, saying he welcomed “a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal.” Oman has previously facilitated indirect talks on Iran’s nuclear programme and hosted last week’s discussions in Geneva, highlighting its continued role as a neutral mediator in the region.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS that there remains a “good chance” for a diplomatic resolution on the nuclear issue, which remains the sole topic of these talks. He emphasized that Iran is still working on a draft proposal and stressed the country’s right to enrich uranium—a point that has been a core issue in US-Iran negotiations.
While no immediate statement came from the White House, tensions remain high. The Trump administration has been demanding concessions and has increased the US military presence in the Middle East to levels not seen in decades. Last Friday, President Donald Trump warned that limited military strikes against Iran are possible if diplomacy fails.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian noted on social media that recent negotiations had exchanged “practical proposals” and brought “encouraging signals,” but he added that Tehran continues to closely monitor US actions and is prepared for any scenario.
The United States has maintained that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons or the capability to build them, and it has consistently opposed uranium enrichment. Meanwhile, Tehran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful and that talks should focus solely on nuclear matters, especially after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian sites in June.
These negotiations follow years of stalemate, particularly after the US withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Since then, Iran has rejected discussions over broader US and Israeli demands, including missile limitations and ties to regional armed groups.
As the world watches, Thursday’s Geneva talks represent a critical moment: a chance to avoid escalation and possibly pave the way for a cautious but meaningful diplomatic breakthrough. The situation remains delicate, but the human stakes—regional stability, the lives of countless civilians, and global security—could not be higher.
