Geneva Talks Begin Between United States and Iran, Oman Sponsors Third Round

Geneva kicked off the third round of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran, with Oman’s Foreign Ministry announcing the start and Muscat sponsoring the talks.

The Oman Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi held consultative meetings in Geneva, including a meeting with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, to discuss technical aspects related to the Iranian nuclear file and “the 'new ideas' on the negotiating table.”

Israel National News

The Iranian news agency 'Fars' reported that the Iranian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the American delegation includes special envoys Steve Wittekov and Jared Kushner.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Tehran is approaching the round “seriously and with flexibility,” and that the negotiations focus on “the nuclear issue,” with a possibility that the IAEA Director General will join the consultations.

U.S. President Donald Trump accused Tehran of pursuing its nuclear ambitions “malicious,” while affirming his preference for a diplomatic solution and saying his country will not permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

The talks’ central divergences, according to the report, include Washington demanding a complete halt to uranium enrichment activities, the transfer of the enriched stock outside Iran, and the inclusion of the ballistic missile program in the agreement.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran's refusal to discuss its missile program represents a 'very big problem,' while Tehran insists negotiations should be limited to the nuclear dossier and demands the lifting of economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its program.

Kurdistan24

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqai described the U.S. accusations regarding the development of intercontinental missiles as 'great lies,' as the report framed competing positions on whether the nuclear program is peaceful.

The report also said the third round comes after resumption of talks on February 6, following a hiatus caused by the war that broke out in June 2025 and lasted 12 days, during which the United States bombed nuclear sites in Iran.

While both sides confirmed openness to dialogue, the report said they kept “the option of force on the table,” leaving outcomes of the current round open to all possibilities.

Separately, the United States is set to host a third round of ambassador-level talks between representatives from Israel and Lebanon, with a State Department official confirming the dates of May 14 and 15.

The report said military representatives from both sides are reportedly set to participate for the first time, as the sides aim to advance concrete measures to reach a permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and implement IN resolutions 1559 and 1701.

It also said Lebanese President Joseph Aoun refused to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unless a permanent ceasefire is reached and Israel withdraws from occupied areas of Lebanon.

The same report identified the State Department meeting context by naming Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter.

The US-hosted track comes as the broader diplomatic and security environment remains active in the region, with the report placing the Lebanon talks alongside ongoing mediation efforts.