WANA (Feb 25) – Iran’s foreign minister and the country’s negotiating team departed Tehran on Wednesday afternoon,  February 25, bound for Geneva, where the third round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is set to take place.

 

According to diplomatic sources, the new round of discussions will be held on Thursday in Geneva and follows earlier meetings aimed at easing tensions and outlining a mutually acceptable framework for addressing nuclear-related disputes. The first round was held on February 5 in Muscat, followed by a second round on February 16 in Geneva.

 

On the eve of the talks, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, stated that Tehran is returning to the negotiating table based on the understandings reached in previous rounds, with strong determination to achieve a “fair and balanced” agreement in the shortest possible time.

 

He reaffirmed Iran’s longstanding position that the country will never pursue the development of nuclear weapons under any circumstances, while at the same time insisting on its legitimate right to benefit from peaceful nuclear technology for its people.

An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, is seen in Tehran, Iran, February 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Araghchi described the current moment as a “historic opportunity” to reach an unprecedented agreement capable of addressing mutual concerns and securing shared interests—provided that diplomacy is given priority.

 

The foreign minister also emphasized that Iran is approaching the negotiations with the same resolve it has shown in defending its national sovereignty, seeking a peaceful resolution to differences through dialogue.

 

Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei noted that Iran is in the process of formulating and consolidating its positions on all elements of a potential agreement, expressing hope that these views would be advanced during the upcoming session with the foreign minister present.

 

Araghchi had also previously told the U.S. network CBS that work is underway on the core elements and draft text of a possible agreement, voicing optimism that future negotiations could proceed on the basis of those drafts.