MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Iranian and US representatives have begun the third round of indirect negotiations on the nuclear dossier, the Fars News Agency reported.

TASS has compiled the main details available at this time.

About the consultations

- According to the Fars News Agency, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi is acting as the mediator.

- Iran’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, and Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

Iran’s position

- Iran is ready for both peaceful and military development scenarios but sets the main objective of averting a possible conflict, Araghchi said.

- He noted that "there is no military solution to the issue of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program."

- Iran has never sought to develop a nuclear bomb, President of the Islamic Republic Masoud Pezeshkian stated.

- The statements of US President Donald Trump about Iran’s alleged desire to build nuclear weapons are groundless, said Esmaeil Kousari, a member of the Committee on Foreign Policy and National Security of the Iranian parliament, General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, elite units of the Iranian army).

- Iran believes it is possible to reach a fair and balanced agreement with the US at talks in Geneva, Araghchi stated in an interview with the Indian television broadcaster India Today.

- He added that Tehran would be more cautious at the talks with the United States in Geneva, considering its previous experience.

- The Iranian top diplomat also noted that the country is not developing long-range missiles.

US position

- The US administration does not refuse contacts with Iran to settle the issue around the Iranian nuclear dossier diplomatically, but it has alternative scenarios, US Vice President JD Vance said.

- The US intends to ensure that a potential deal on Iran’s nuclear program remains in effect indefinitely, US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff said during a closed-door meeting on February 24, Axios reported, citing sources.

- According to Axios, if an agreement is reached, the Trump administration wants to conduct further negotiations on Iran’s missile program and alleged support to pro-Iranian armed formations in the region.

- Trump may accept "token" nuclear enrichment if Iran "leaves no possible path to a bomb," a US official told Axios.

- The United States fears that a possible strike on Iran could prompt a large-scale response, resulting in casualties among American citizens and political risks, Politico reported, citing sources.

Global reaction

- Chinese authorities express hope that the United States will not initiate a military conflict with Iran, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said.

- Beijing is closely monitoring the situation around Iran, she added.

- Hezbollah will step into the military confrontation between the United States and Iran if there is a threat to overthrow the ruling authorities in Tehran, the Janoubia news outlet reported, citing a representative of the organization.

Potential strike on Iran

- Advisors to Trump believe it would be advantageous for Washington if Israel were to strike Iran first, Politico reported, citing sources.

- According to them, a potential Israeli attack will prompt a response, giving the US a reason to join the conflict.

- The US officials estimate that American voters would be more supportive of military action in Iran if Tehran strikes a US ally.

- Nevertheless, they agree that the most likely scenario remains a coordinated US-Israeli strike.

- Sources close to the US government are certain that the US is going to "bomb" Iran, Politico writes.

- According to another source of the newspaper, another option considered by Washington is targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Previous rounds

- Five rounds of Oman-mediated nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in 2025 ended to no avail following Israel’s military operation against Iran and US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

- Two rounds of talks on the Iranian nuclear dossier were held on February 6 in the Omani capital city and on February 17 in Geneva.

- The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

- The American delegation was headed by US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff.

- After the second round of talks in Geneva, Tehran and Washington reached an understanding on several general issues, IRNA reported.

- According to Araghchi, following the second round, Iran and the US agreed on a set of guiding principles that will be incorporated into the text of a potential future nuclear deal.