IRAN, US 'MOVED CLOSER TO AGREEMENT’ AFTER GENEVA TALKS, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS

TEHRAN, Feb 27 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday evening that Tehran and Washington “moved closer to agreement” on certain issues, and that seriousness was evident on both sides, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

Speaking to reporters after the end of the third round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States (US) in Geneva, Araghchi said seriousness between the two sides “was more evident than before.”

He said the two sides agreed that technical teams will begin discussions and reviews in Vienna starting Monday.

A new round of negotiations will be held in less than a week, he added.

Araghchi, who led the Iranian delegation to the talks, said Thursday marked one of the “most serious and longest rounds” of negotiations, adding that the presence of United Nations (UN) nuclear agency chief, Rafael Grossi “was helpful from a technical standpoint.”

The issue of the UN Security Council and US sanctions was among Iran’s demands, and it was agreed that the issue would be addressed in greater detail next week, he said.

The top diplomat added that in the area of sanctions relief, the Iranian side “clearly outlined” its specific demands.

Araghchi noted that there is an agreement on “most of the elements” of the potential agreement and how they are addressed, but they require “detailed and technical discussions.”

For this reason, he said, Tehran decided that its experts would hold a meeting Monday with the UN nuclear agency, where certain technical aspects would be discussed, after which decisions would be made in meetings at the political level.

The third round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US in Geneva on Thursday under Omani mediation was the longest of the three rounds of talks held so far. Thursday’s negotiations were divided into two sessions before and after a break, during which the two sides consulted with their respective capitals.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who was acting as the mediator, reported “significant progress” in the talks.

“We will resume soon after consultation in the respective capitals. Discussions on a technical level will take place next week in Vienna. I am grateful to all concerned for their efforts: the negotiators, the IAEA, and our hosts the Swiss government,” he wrote on the US social media company X.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU