Geneva Talks End: Multiple Parties State "Progress is Positive"

According to reports from CCTV News, Xinhua News Agency, and other media outlets, as Iran and the United States concluded a new round of indirect talks in Geneva, Switzerland, positive statements about the progress of the negotiations caused international oil prices to retreat from earlier gains.

As of press time, Brent crude oil experienced a brief surge during the day but then stabilized, with the latest price back to $71 per barrel.

Overall, Thursday’s lengthy talks were divided into morning and afternoon sessions. Under the mediation of Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi and IAEA Director General Grossi, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witterkoff, Jared Kushner, and Iranian Foreign Minister Alaraji held indirect negotiations again.

At 2:33 a.m. Beijing time on Friday, Badr al-Busaidi announced on social media that the talks had concluded and “made significant progress,” triggering a rapid drop in international oil prices.

Badr al-Busaidi wrote, “After significant progress in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, we concluded today’s talks. Parties will consult in their capitals and soon resume negotiations. Technical discussions will be held next week in Vienna.”

(Source: X)

Vienna is also the headquarters of the IAEA.

Subsequently, Iranian Foreign Minister Alaraji held a press briefing, confirming that “good progress has been made in the negotiations,” and that the two sides are “close to reaching a consensus” in certain areas.

Alaraji said, “We conducted one of the most serious and longest-lasting rounds of negotiations. The meeting lasted about four hours in the morning, and another two hours in the afternoon… Overall, during this long and intensive negotiation process, we made good progress and began to seriously examine various elements of the agreement — including nuclear issues and sanctions.”

He further stated, “In some areas, the understanding between the two sides is already very close. Of course, disagreements still exist, which is natural; but compared to the past, both sides are more earnest in reaching solutions through negotiations.”

Alaraji concluded by saying that both sides also decided to hold the next round of talks soon, possibly within a week.

Similar to previous negotiations, the U.S. side did not issue an immediate statement. However, signals from media channels indicate some changes.

According to Xinhua News Agency citing Axios, Witterkoff and Kushner expressed “disappointment” with what Iran informed them during the morning session.

But after the talks ended, an anonymous senior U.S. official told the same channel that the negotiations were “positive,” though no further details were immediately provided.

(Source: Cailian News)