Swiss say Oman to host US-Iran talks in Geneva next week
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Iranian people walking past a huge anti-US billboard in Tehran's Valiasr Square on Feb 8.
PHOTO: AFP
- Switzerland announced Oman would host US-Iran talks in Geneva to limit Iran's nuclear programme, following previous indirect talks. The US is increasing military pressure.
- Switzerland, a neutral "protecting power" since 1980, facilitates US-Iran diplomatic ties and consular affairs, offering its "good offices" for dialogue.
- Separately, US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine will occur in Geneva on Feb 17-18, aiming to end their four-year war after previous rounds failed.
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GENEVA - Switzerland said on Feb 14 that Oman would host talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva next week, with Washington pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme.
“Switzerland stands ready at all times to offer its good offices to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran,” a Swiss foreign ministry spokesman told AFP.
On Feb 6, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks in Oman with US envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s influential son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The talks were indirect, with the Omanis acting as mediators.
Mr Trump has recently focused his military threats on Tehran’s nuclear programme, which US forces struck in July 2025
Mr Trump said on Feb 13 that a change of government in Iran ratcheting up military pressure
Go-between
Switzerland has played a key role in diplomatic relations between Iran and the US for decades.
Renowned for its neutrality, Switzerland has been representing US interests in Iran since Washington broke off relations with Tehran after the 1980 hostage crisis, a year after the Iranian revolution.
In its role as the so-called protecting power, Switzerland has for decades allowed the two feuding nations to maintain a minimum of diplomatic and consular relations.
The Swiss embassy in Tehran handles all consular affairs between the US and Iran, including passport requests, altering civil status and consular protection for US citizens in Iran.
Under the protecting power mandate, “Switzerland can either offer to act as a go-between on its own initiative or can fulfil this function at the request of the parties concerned, provided that all those involved agree,” the foreign ministry says on its website.
The US will be holding separate talks, also in Geneva next week, between Russia and Ukraine.
Moscow and Kyiv will hold US-brokered talks on Feb 17 and 18 in the Swiss city, both countries have said, announcing the next leg in fraught negotiations seeking to end the four-year war.
Mr Trump is pushing to halt the conflict, but two previous rounds of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi have not yielded signs of a breakthrough. AFP
