Iran Affirms Readiness for Diplomatic Nuclear Resolution with the United States

On Friday, February 20, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s fundamental commitment to seeking a diplomatic resolution regarding its nuclear program with the United States. This announcement followed a pivotal second round of indirect consultations held in Geneva on February 17, 2026. Araghchi noted that significant progress had been made during these sessions in establishing "guiding principles" for future cooperation.

Expressing optimism about a mutually beneficial outcome, the Foreign Minister warned that any shift toward a military solution would result in catastrophic repercussions for the entire Middle East. To demonstrate Tehran's serious intent, Araghchi announced that Iran would submit a formal written proposal—a comprehensive draft agreement—to American negotiators within the next two to three days.

While diplomacy continues, Washington maintains a posture of intense military and political pressure. President Donald Trump, who began his second term on January 20, 2025, has imposed a strict 10-to-15-day ultimatum for the realization of a "meaningful deal." The White House has cautioned that failure to reach an agreement within this narrow timeframe will lead to severe consequences.

This diplomatic tension is mirrored by a massive U.S. military mobilization in the region. The deployment includes the strike group of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, with the USS Gerald R. Ford expected to arrive shortly. Intelligence sources suggest this concentration of naval and air power is the most significant in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, serving as a clear signal of American readiness.

A primary point of contention remains the status of Iran’s uranium enrichment. Araghchi suggested that, during recent talks, the U.S. side moved away from demanding a total halt, focusing instead on "confidence-building measures." However, this contradicts President Trump’s public insistence on a complete cessation of enrichment activities. Furthermore, on February 17, 2026, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei explicitly rejected U.S. demands to limit enrichment or the nation’s ballistic missile capabilities, presenting a major hurdle for negotiators.

The second round of negotiations in Geneva, facilitated by Oman, proved more substantive than the initial meeting held on February 6 in Muscat. The high-level American delegation featured Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Presidential Advisor Jared Kushner, while Araghchi led the Iranian side. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi also participated, providing technical expertise on the monitoring of nuclear facilities.

Experts suggest that the transition to discussing sanctions relief and technical restrictions indicates the start of "textual work," though a breakthrough is not certain. The stakes are incredibly high, with White House officials estimating a 90 percent probability of "kinetic action" within weeks if talks collapse. This follows the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian sites in June 2025 and ongoing internal unrest in Iran since late December 2025, which has resulted in 3,117 deaths according to official reports. Iran remains firm that while nuclear compromises are possible, its defensive missile program is strictly excluded from these negotiations.