 Steve Witkoff, the US President's Special Envoy for the Middle East (left), and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi (Photo: REUTERS) |
Earlier, on February 6, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held indirect talks in Oman with Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East, with mediation by the host country. Following the first round of talks, US President Donald Trump warned that failure to reach an agreement with Washington would carry “very serious” consequences for Tehran.
Iran has reiterated that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and said it is prepared to accept all forms of verification. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that in recent months it has been unable to fully carry out inspections and verification of Iran’s nuclear stockpiles.
Switzerland has long played a mediating role between the two countries and has represented US interests in Iran since Washington severed diplomatic ties with Tehran following the 1980 hostage crisis. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran currently handles consular affairs between the US and Iran and maintains a minimal communication channel amid persistently strained bilateral relations