While in the Strait of Hormuz the Revolutionary Guards began a series of military exercises, in response on the ground to the dispatch of a second North American aircraft carrier to the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met this Monday, February 16, in Geneva with the leader of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on the eve of a new round of negotiations with the United States, in Oman, on the future of Tehran’s nuclear program.
This new round of discussions aims to reduce tensions in the region and avoid a new military confrontation – after the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June last year – which Iran’s Supreme Guide, the ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already warned that it could become a regional conflict.
“I am in Geneva with concrete ideas to reach a fair and equitable agreement”, wrote Araghchi in X. “What is not under discussion: submission in the face of threats”, he assured.
The IAEA has been asking for access to nuclear facilities bombed by the US and Israel in the 12-day war in June, but Tehran has delayed it, citing the radiation risk.
As for today’s negotiations, which should again feature US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Iran has repeated that it will not agree to Washington’s demand for zero nuclear enrichment and considers its missile program a red line.
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