Iran foreign minister says progress made in Geneva
Iran and the United States claimed progress in the second round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the two sides had reached an understanding on “guiding principles” and would begin discussing the text of a deal, though he stressed this did not mean a deal was imminent. Araqchi added that after the exchange of documents, the two sides would set a date for the third round of negotiations.
The negotiations are being mediated by Oman, and Reuters reports that the US delegation includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. From Washington, President Donald Trump previously said he would be involved “indirectly” and assessed Tehran’s desire for a deal—but still warned of consequences if the talks fail.
Outside the negotiating room, tensions remain high as the US beefs up its military presence in the Middle East, while Iranian state media reported plans to temporarily close part of the Strait of Hormuz during military exercises. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also asserted that US attempts to overthrow his government would fail—making “geopolitical headlines” a key factor in market pricing.
The market response was swift: after Araqchi's comments eased concerns about an "imminent" supply disruption, Brent prices fell more than 1% (Reuters recorded Brent at around $67.71/barrel on Tuesday), as some of the risk premium began to unwind. However, the next direction still depends heavily on the schedule for the third round and how far the two sides can reach a compromise on the core issues—particularly the limitations on the nuclear program versus sanctions relief.
Source: Newsmaker.id
