February 16, 2026
Araghchi held what Grossi described on X as “in-depth technical discussions” ahead of “important negotiations scheduled for tomorrow in Geneva,” the next round of indirect talks mediated by Oman.
The Iranian foreign minister said he was in Switzerland “for deep technical discussion,” ahead of talks focused on Tehran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the meeting addressed safeguards cooperation and Tehran’s legal obligations under a parliamentary law, with Iranian officials outlining their technical positions for the indirect negotiations with Washington.
“I am in Geneva with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal,” Araghchi wrote, adding, “What is not on the table: Submission before threats.”
The talks follow earlier negotiations in Muscat on 6 February, led by Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff, with Oman as an intermediary.
Tensions remain high as the US army prepares for the possibility of a “sustained, weeks-long military campaign” against Iran if US President Donald Trump orders an attack.
The IRGC recently launched drills in the Strait of Hormuz to prepare for “potential security and military threats,” state TV said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “we’re hopeful there’s a deal,” while Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told BBC, “If we see the sincerity on their part, I am sure we will be on a road to have an agreement.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined five conditions for any Iran–US agreement.
“The first is that all enriched material has to leave Iran,” the premier said in his statement, adding, “The second is that there should be no enrichment capability – not stopping the enrichment process, but dismantling the equipment and the infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place.”
Netanyahu also called for strict limits on Iran’s missile program, the dismantlement of regional resistance groups, and what he described as “effective, substantive, no lead time” inspections “in perpetuity.”
A report by Axios said Washington and Tel Aviv agreed to intensify pressure by targeting Iranian oil sales to China.
Tehran has urged Washington not to allow Israel to derail the negotiations.
The discussions come months after Tehran terminated a Cairo-brokered cooperation arrangement with the agency following a Board of Governors resolution demanding expanded access to bombed nuclear sites and updated reporting on Iran’s enriched uranium stock, which Iran condemned as “illegal, unjustifiable, irresponsible, and a stain on the image of its sponsors.”
While Iran remains under IAEA safeguards, access to some damaged facilities has not yet been fully restored.
The talks come as the Pentagon
weighs a potential ‘weeks-long’ war against Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi met with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General
Rafael Grossi in Geneva on 16 February, ahead of a second round of indirect
nuclear talks with the US.
Araghchi held what Grossi described on X as “in-depth technical discussions” ahead of “important negotiations scheduled for tomorrow in Geneva,” the next round of indirect talks mediated by Oman.
The Iranian foreign minister said he was in Switzerland “for deep technical discussion,” ahead of talks focused on Tehran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the meeting addressed safeguards cooperation and Tehran’s legal obligations under a parliamentary law, with Iranian officials outlining their technical positions for the indirect negotiations with Washington.
“I am in Geneva with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal,” Araghchi wrote, adding, “What is not on the table: Submission before threats.”
The talks follow earlier negotiations in Muscat on 6 February, led by Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff, with Oman as an intermediary.
Tensions remain high as the US army prepares for the possibility of a “sustained, weeks-long military campaign” against Iran if US President Donald Trump orders an attack.
The IRGC recently launched drills in the Strait of Hormuz to prepare for “potential security and military threats,” state TV said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “we’re hopeful there’s a deal,” while Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told BBC, “If we see the sincerity on their part, I am sure we will be on a road to have an agreement.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined five conditions for any Iran–US agreement.
“The first is that all enriched material has to leave Iran,” the premier said in his statement, adding, “The second is that there should be no enrichment capability – not stopping the enrichment process, but dismantling the equipment and the infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place.”
Netanyahu also called for strict limits on Iran’s missile program, the dismantlement of regional resistance groups, and what he described as “effective, substantive, no lead time” inspections “in perpetuity.”
A report by Axios said Washington and Tel Aviv agreed to intensify pressure by targeting Iranian oil sales to China.
Tehran has urged Washington not to allow Israel to derail the negotiations.
The discussions come months after Tehran terminated a Cairo-brokered cooperation arrangement with the agency following a Board of Governors resolution demanding expanded access to bombed nuclear sites and updated reporting on Iran’s enriched uranium stock, which Iran condemned as “illegal, unjustifiable, irresponsible, and a stain on the image of its sponsors.”
While Iran remains under IAEA safeguards, access to some damaged facilities has not yet been fully restored.
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