Iran and the United States achieved what mediators described as “significant progress” in talks in Switzerland on Thursday, as both sides work to prevent a potential conflict. Officials confirmed that another round of discussions is scheduled for next week in Vienna, Austria.
The negotiations, facilitated by Oman, come after repeated threats from Donald Trump, who last Thursday gave Iran 15 days to reach an agreement. While Tehran emphasizes that the talks focus solely on its nuclear program, Washington has pushed for limits on Iran’s missile capabilities and its support for regional militant groups.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television that the discussions “made very good progress and entered into the elements of an agreement very seriously, both in the nuclear field and in the sanctions field.” He added that technical talks at the UN’s nuclear agency are set to begin in Vienna on Monday, with the next round “perhaps less than a week” away.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi also confirmed technical discussions would take place next week. “We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran,” he wrote on X.
The talks unfolded amid the largest US military buildup in the Middle East in decades. Delegations met at the Omani ambassador’s residence under tight security and paused for consultations with their respective capitals before resuming later in the day. Araghchi described the latest round as “the most intense so far,” noting that discussions would continue in detail on crucial matters such as sanctions relief and nuclear measures. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi was also involved in the negotiations.
Amid the tense backdrop, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, left a naval base in Crete on Thursday, joining a dozen other US warships in the region, including another carrier, nine destroyers, and three other combat vessels. The deployment reflects heightened US concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Ahead of the talks, President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons. Trump, however, accused Iran of “sinister nuclear ambitions” and of possessing missiles capable of threatening Europe and US overseas bases. Iran’s foreign ministry called these claims “big lies,” noting that publicly disclosed missile ranges are far shorter than US estimates suggest.
Locals in Tehran expressed concern about the consequences of renewed conflict. “There would be famine and people would suffer a lot,” said Tayebeh, a 60-year-old homemaker. “People are suffering now, but at least with war, our fate might be clear.”
While the diplomatic path is still fragile, the ongoing dialogue between Iran and the US shows cautious steps toward easing tensions that could otherwise escalate into widespread suffering. For the people of Iran, every round of negotiation represents hope—hope that diplomacy, rather than conflict, will shape their future.
