Tuesday, February 17, 2026-Iran’s top diplomat met this week with the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Geneva as global attention turns to a second round of nuclear negotiations with the United States aimed at addressing Tehran’s contentious nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sat down with IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi to discuss technical and diplomatic matters just before indirect talks between Tehran and Washington resume, with Oman acting as a mediator. The meeting marks an effort to re-establish channels of cooperation after a period of limited engagement with the watchdog.
Araghchi, speaking publicly ahead of the U.S. talks, said his delegation came to Geneva “with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal,” while making clear that Iran rejects being pressured into concessions under threat.
Iranian officials have signaled a willingness to consider compromise on nuclear limits if sanctions relief is part of the equation, but they continue to insist the nucleus of any agreement must respect Iran’s view of its sovereign rights. Talks in Geneva have been framed by tension on other fronts, including recent military drills by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz and the deployment of additional U.S. naval forces to the region.
The upcoming U.S.-Iran discussions carry high stakes as both sides jockey for leverage. Washington has repeatedly stressed that it will maintain pressure and uphold rigid conditions on uranium enrichment and compliance, while Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are peaceful and argues that sanctions relief is necessary to move forward.
With no breakthrough yet, the latest meetings in Geneva highlight the fragile nature of diplomacy around Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the continued involvement of the IAEA as a central technical monitor ahead of further U.S.-led negotiations.
0 Comments