US–Iran Nuclear Talks in Geneva End With No Deal (Feb 2026)

On February 26, 2026, US and Iranian officials held indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman. It was the third round of negotiations that month. The US delegation was led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; the Iranian side included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Outcome

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi reported "significant progress" but no deal was reached. Iranian officials said they had "reached agreement on some issues" with differences remaining on others. Technical-level discussions were scheduled to resume in Vienna the following week.

Context

The talks took place against a backdrop of a large US military buildup in the region—described as nearly half of all deployable American airpower and the largest concentration of US forces in the area since the 1991 Gulf War. President Trump had threatened military action if no deal was achieved, though in his February 25 State of the Union address he stated his preference for diplomacy.

Key sticking points included Iran's demand for lifting US sanctions and its insistence on the right to peaceful nuclear technology, contrasted with US demands that Iran dismantle or destroy its nuclear sites.

Based on reporting from Reuters, AP, Foreign Policy, and Defense News (February 2026).