Talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland have ended, Iranian media reported on Tuesday. Iran's foreign minister said Iran and the United States had agreed during their discussions in Switzerland on "a set of guiding principles," which could pave the way for a deal.

Published on: 02/17/2026 - 02:51 Modified on: 02/17/2026 - 17:58

Round two complete. Iran and the United States ended the second round of discussions in Geneva on Tuesday February 17 at midday to avoid the risk of military intervention from Washington. The two enemy countries resumed dialogue on February 6 in Muscat, the capital of Oman, after an escalation of threats from both sides.

In view of these first discussions, "we can cautiously conclude that the American position on the Iranian nuclear issue has become more realistic," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei on Monday, quoted by the Irna news agency.

Donald Trump put pressure on Tehran on Monday evening by specifying that he would participate "indirectly" in the negotiations. "They want to conclude an agreement. (...) I don't think they want to assume the consequences of not concluding an agreement," said the American president.

“Guiding Principles”

Iran's foreign minister said Iran and the United States had agreed during their discussions in Switzerland on "a set of guiding principles" that could pave the way for a possible deal.

“We were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, on the basis of which we will move forward and start working on the text of a potential agreement,” Abbas Araghchi said on state television, calling the new session of talks “more constructive” than the February 6 session in Oman.

Tehran and Washington then resumed discussions for the first time since the American bombings on Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war triggered in June by an Israeli attack against Iran.

“This does not mean that we can quickly reach an agreement,” however, tempered the minister, recognizing that “it would take time to reduce” the gap between the positions of the two parties.

“It was agreed that the two parties would continue their work on draft texts”, after which “a date for a third session” would be set, he added.

Speaking afterwards in Geneva, he welcomed that a “new window of opportunity” for a diplomatic settlement to tensions with the United States had opened.

“We hope that these negotiations will result in a negotiated and lasting solution that will serve the interests of the parties concerned and the region as a whole,” he said during a session of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, held after talks held Tuesday in the residence of Oman, country mediating the discussions, near Geneva.

Ali Khamenei recalls that ships “can sink”

Alongside diplomacy, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards deployed boats and helicopters on Monday, and tested drones and missiles, in a military exercise that appeared to be a show of force in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The maneuvers, the duration of which was not specified, were intended to prepare the Guardians, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, "for potential security and military threats", said state television, which broadcast images.

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Washington, for its part, maintains its military pressure: an aircraft carrier is still off the coast of Iran, around 700 kilometers from its coast, and another is ready to set sail. Donald Trump appears to be keeping his options open.

Iran also insisted on Tuesday that it has different options regarding this deployment. “We keep hearing” that the United States “has sent a warship to Iran,” Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a speech. “A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but the weapon capable of sinking it is even more dangerous,” he insisted.

Donald Trump will not succeed in destroying the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei also said. “In one of his recent speeches, the American president said that for 47 years, America has not succeeded in destroying the Islamic Republic... I tell you: you will not succeed,” added the Iranian leader, who was skeptical about the second round of talks.

Donald Trump threatens “traumatic consequences”

For these new discussions, the United States and Iran meet this time in Geneva, under the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman. The head of Iranian diplomacy Abbas Araghchi arrived in Switzerland on Monday, where he met his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi to explain "the point of view and considerations of the Islamic Republic on the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions", according to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this press release, he also mentions Iran's "determination" to work towards "results-oriented diplomacy to guarantee the interests and rights of Iranians and peace and stability in the region."

Western countries and Israel, considered by experts to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East, suspect Iran of wanting to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran denies having such ambitions, but insists on its "inalienable right" to develop a civilian nuclear sector and to enrich uranium, particularly for energy, in accordance with the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of which it is a signatory.

Donald Trump has increased his warnings after the bloody repression of massive demonstrations in January in Iran, while leaving the door open to a diplomatic settlement, particularly on the Iranian nuclear program. In the absence of an agreement, the American president threatened Iran with "traumatic" consequences and even openly raised the possibility of a overthrow of power on Friday. “It seems like it would be the best thing that could happen,” he responded to journalists questioning him about a possible “regime change.”

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“What is not on the table: submission in the face of threats,” Abbas Araghchi, for his part, insisted on X on Monday, saying he was in Geneva “with real ideas to reach a fair and equitable agreement.”

Iran ready for a compromise on nuclear power

On the American side, emissary Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, "are on their way", the head of American diplomacy Marco Rubio announced on Monday. "We will see what happens. We hope there will be an agreement," he added.

The United States and Iran differ on the content of their new discussions. Iran only wants to talk about its nuclear program. Washington, like Israel, also demands that it limit its ballistic missile program and stop supporting regional armed groups. On the nuclear side, Iran said it was ready to compromise concerning its stock of highly enriched uranium, estimated at more than 400 kilograms and whose fate remains uncertain, if Washington lifted the sanctions which are penalizing the Iranian economy.

With AFP

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