The Iran–US nuclear talks in Geneva yielded tentative diplomatic progress on Tuesday, as Iranian officials confirmed that indirect negotiations with the United States had resulted in agreement on what they described as “general guiding principles” governing Iran’s nuclear programme.
The meeting, held in Geneva and mediated by Oman, was portrayed by Tehran as more constructive than an earlier round this month, although officials on both sides acknowledged that major differences remain.
The talks focused on the terms under which Iran might constrain its nuclear activities under international supervision.
They lasted around three and a half hours and were conducted indirectly, reflecting the continued absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.
While there was no immediate official statement from Washington, US officials were expected to maintain a parallel strategy of diplomatic engagement and military pressure ahead of a possible follow-up meeting in roughly two weeks.
The negotiations unfolded against a backdrop of mixed signals from US president Donald Trump, who has alternated between expressing optimism that Iran wants a deal and emphasising the expansion of US naval deployments in the region.
American officials have argued that sustained military pressure is necessary to prevent Tehran from accelerating its nuclear programme while talks continue.
Inside Iran, the timing of the talks coincided with a day of heightened emotion as memorial ceremonies were held for those killed in recent protests, observed on the 40th day after their deaths in accordance with Shia mourning traditions.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, acknowledged that bystanders had been killed during the unrest, while president Masoud Pezeshkian attended a ceremony in Mashhad, where he appeared visibly shaken as he confronted images of those who had died.
Iran has continued to resist international scrutiny of its response to the protests. Authorities have refused to allow a UN-mandated independent fact-finding mission to operate alongside a domestic inquiry, and several politicians who criticised the role of the security forces have been detained.
Judicial officials say more than 10,000 protesters have been summoned for trial, amid widespread reports of coerced confessions and restrictions on legal representation.
Speaking after the Geneva meeting, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the atmosphere had been “more constructive” than in previous talks and that progress had been made.
However, he cautioned that narrowing the gap between the two sides would take time. He said the next step would involve exchanging draft texts and setting a date for further negotiations, stressing that agreement on principles did not mean a comprehensive deal was imminent.
Verification remains a central sticking point. Any agreement would require a significant expansion of access for the International Atomic Energy Agency, which currently has only a limited presence in Iran.
Inspectors lack full knowledge of the damage inflicted on nuclear facilities by recent US strikes or of how quickly centrifuges could be restarted. Previous talks aimed at restoring full inspection protocols have faltered, leaving trust in short supply on both sides.
Iran has reiterated that it does not seek nuclear weapons and has instead proposed diluting its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, a level close to weapons-grade but unnecessary for civilian nuclear energy.
Tehran has also offered enhanced access to bombed nuclear sites, while firmly rejecting US demands that it relinquish its right to enrich uranium domestically.
Regional tensions added further strain to the diplomatic effort.
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Iran announced temporary closures of parts of the Strait of Hormuz to conduct live-fire naval exercises, underlining its capacity to disrupt a critical global shipping route.
While Iranian officials described the drills as defensive, US and allied governments warned that any prolonged disruption would have serious economic consequences.
Iran has insisted throughout the talks that its ballistic missile programme and its support for allied groups in the region are not open for discussion.
Instead, Tehran has sought to frame the negotiations narrowly around nuclear constraints, sanctions relief, and security guarantees, including proposals for a non-aggression pact with the United States and potentially Israel.
Despite the cautious tone from Iranian officials, the Geneva meeting highlighted how far apart the two sides remain.
While the agreement on guiding principles has kept diplomacy alive, the path to a comprehensive deal remains uncertain, shaped as much by domestic pressures in Iran and political calculations in Washington as by the technical complexities of nuclear verification
