GENEVA: The United States and Iran made progress in talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme on Thursday, mediator Oman said, though negotiations ended without a breakthrough that could definitively avert potential US military action amid an ongoing buildup of forces in the region.
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X that the two sides had made “significant progress” during indirect talks held in Switzerland and would resume negotiations soon after consultations in their respective capitals. Technical-level discussions are scheduled to take place next week in Vienna, he added.
According to media reports, Albusaidi is expected to hold talks with US Vice President JD Vance and other American officials in Washington.
The discussions in Geneva brought together Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in two sessions held earlier in the day.
Albusaidi described the negotiations as constructive, saying “creative and positive ideas” had been exchanged. However, he did not provide details or indicate that major obstacles had been resolved.
Araqchi told Iranian state television that agreement had been reached on some issues, while differences remained on others. He confirmed that another round of talks would be held within a week and reiterated Tehran’s demand for the lifting of US sanctions.
There was no immediate official comment from the US negotiating team, though media reports quoted a senior US official as describing the talks as “positive.”
The diplomatic push comes amid heightened regional tensions. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that failure to reach a deal could result in military action, stating that Iran must agree to terms within days or face “serious consequences.” Washington has increased its military presence in waters near Iran in recent weeks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s ballistic missile programme remained a major concern and would need to be addressed as part of any comprehensive agreement. The US has insisted that Iran halt uranium enrichment, which it says could enable the development of a nuclear weapon.
Tehran has consistently denied seeking to build a nuclear bomb. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had banned weapons of mass destruction, reiterating a long-standing religious decree.
Analysts say the coming round of negotiations may prove decisive in determining whether diplomacy can ease tensions and prevent further escalation in an already volatile Middle East.