Issued on: 26/02/2026 - 07:07Modified: 27/02/2026 - 05:15
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iranian and US negotiators made “good progress” in indirect talks on Thursday covering Tehran’s nuclear programme and the lifting of international sanctions. Araghchi said that technical talks with the US would begin next week at the UN's nuclear agency in Vienna. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
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Omani foreign minister to meet US officials in DC on Friday, MS Now reports
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi is scheduled to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other officials in Washington on Friday for talks in an effort to stave off war with Iran, MS Now reported on Thursday.
Oil prices edge lower after US, Iran extend talks
Oil prices fell on Friday and were on track for a weekly decline after the United States and Iran
extended talks over the OPEC member's nuclear programme, easing concerns about potential hostilities that could disrupt supply.
Brent crude futures lost 28 cents, or 0.4%, to $70.47 a barrel. WTI futures fell 29 cents, or 0.44%, to
$64.92.
For the week, Brent was heading for a 1.8% decline, while WTI was set to fall around 2.2%, reversing some of the previous week's gains.
Vance says 'no chance' US strike on Iran would spark lasting war
US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday there is "no chance" a strike on Iran -- a move his boss Donald Trump is considering -- would lead to protracted war in the region, according to a Washington Post interview.
"The idea that we're going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight -- there is no chance that will happen," Vance told the paper, essentially rejecting criticism that Washington could get stuck in a military quagmire in the volatile region should Trump order air strikes.
"I think we all prefer the diplomatic option," said Vance, a US Marine veteran who served in the Iraq war. "But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say."
Iran foreign minister says latest round of US talks 'most intense so far'
ran's foreign minister said the latest round of talks with the United States in Geneva were the "most intense" so far.
"Further progress has been made in our diplomatic engagement with the United States. This round of talks was the most intense so far," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on X posted overnight after talks on Thursday.
What Americans think about Trump's judgment on military force as Iran talks resume
As the US and Iran head into their next round of nuclear talks in Geneva, a new AP-NORC poll finds that many US adults continue to view Iran’s nuclear program as a threat — but they also don't have high trust in President Donald Trump's judgment on the use of military force abroad.
About half of US adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned that Iran's nuclear program poses a direct threat to the United States, according to the new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About 3 in 10 are “moderately” concerned and only about 2 in 10 are “not very" concerned or “not concerned at all."
The survey was conducted Feb. 19-23, as military tensions built in the Middle East between the United States and Iran. The US is seeking a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program and ensure it does not develop nuclear weapons, while Iran says it is not pursuing weapons and has so far resisted demands that it halt uranium enrichment on its soil or hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Iran FM says 'good progress' in talks with US
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has that the latest round of talks with the United States dealt with the nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions, adding that negotiators made "good progress".
"We made very good progress and entered into the elements of an agreement very seriously, both in the nuclear field and in the sanctions field," Araghchi told state TV after the talks in Geneva ended.
Araghchi said that technical nuclear talks with the United States would begin from next week at the UN's nuclear agency in Vienna.
"We decided that the technical teams would start technical studies at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on Monday, and with the help of experts from that organisation," Araghchi said.
Iran, US to hold technical discussions next week in Vienna, Oman FM says
Oman's foreign minister has said that the third round of talks between Iran and the United States were over and that technical discussions will be held next week in Vienna.
"We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran," Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X, adding that "discussions on a technical level will take place next week in Vienna".
Iran, US talks ended after 'significant progress', Oman FM says
US delegation seen leaving site of nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva
The American delegation at talks over Iran’s nuclear program in Geneva has left the site of the negotiations.
Iranian state television aired images of them driving off late Thursday. It wasn’t clear if the talks were over for the day.
An Iranian state TV reporter outside of the talks beyond a police cordon said she was waiting to see Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi leave the site.
White House envoys disappointed after morning talks with Iranians, Axios reports
White House envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were disappointed by what they heard from Iranians in morning negotiations Thursday in Geneva, Axios reported.
Who is Ali Larijani, the veteran 'insider' shaping Iran's nuclear policy?
US and Iran hold a third round of indirect talks in Geneva
Convoy carrying US diplomats in Geneva arrives to resume indirect talks with Iran
Convoy believed to be carrying Iranian diplomats returns to location of US talks in Geneva
A convoy believed to be carrying Iranian diplomats has returned to an Omani diplomatic residence in Geneva hosting indirect talks with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program.
The convoy pulled into the compound on the shores of Lake Geneva on Thursday.
The two sides had taken a several-hour break in the talks. The US side went to a meeting with Ukrainian officials during that time.
Iran-US talks to resume around 5pm GMT, foreign ministry says
Iranian and US delegations have held consultations with their respective capitals during a pause in talks which will resume around 5pm GMT, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said.
"Both delegations needed to carry out consultations with their respective capitals," Esmaeil Baqaei told state TV, adding that "the talks will resume around 5:30 or 6pm local time" (around 4:30 or 5pm GMT).
Baqaei described the first session of negotiations, which lasted about three hours, as "intensive and very serious".
Crimes against humanity complaint filed in Switzerland against Iran deputy minister
A complaint has been filed in Switzerland accusing Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi of crimes against humanity linked to anti-government protests in his country in recent years, lawyers said Thursday.
The complaint, filed by an Iranian-Swiss citizen, said Gharibabadi "may have committed serious crimes contrary to international law" linked to protests over the death in custody of a woman, Mahsa Amini, the lawyers told AFP, demanding the arrest of the deputy minister who has been in Geneva this week.
It suggested he could be "a co-perpetrator or, at the very least, that his responsibility could be engaged due to his position as a hierarchical superior at the time of the events".
Iran-US indirect talks: What are the current sticking points?
Yesterday's key developments:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday that Iran's refusal to speak with the US about ballistic missiles is "a big problem".
“Whatever they’re alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear programme, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’,” wrote Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on X.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had a “favourable outlook for the negotiations” that could finally “move beyond this ‘neither war nor peace’ situation”.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
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