By Virginia Allen, The Daily Signal | February 26, 2026
Negotiations between representatives of the United States and Iran concluded without a nuclear deal on Thursday, with another round of talks scheduled for next week.
Thursday’s negotiations were “one of the most serious and longest rounds of talks,” according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry. Negotiators met for four hours in the morning and an additional two in the afternoon.
“During these long and intensive hours, we made good progress,” the ministry wrote on X following the talks, which Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi mediated.
Albusaidi said “significant progress” was made but failed to provide details.
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and former adviser to President Donald Trump Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, represented the U.S. in Geneva, Switzerland. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian delegation.
The U.S. delegation was “disappointed” with progress after the morning block of negotiations, Axios reported.
Trump has repeatedly said Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and claims Iran is actively working to rebuild its nuclear program following Operation Midnight Hammer in June, during which the U.S. struck Iran’s three key nuclear sites.
Iran has long denied wanting a bomb and said earlier on Thursday it would show flexibility at the talks. Reuters reported on Sunday that Tehran was offering undefined new concessions in return for the removal of sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
Any substantial move toward an elusive agreement between longtime foes Washington and Tehran could reduce the imminent prospects for Trump to carry out a threatened attack on Iran that many fear could escalate into a wider war.
“We seriously addressed the elements of an agreement, both in the nuclear field and in the area of sanctions,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry wrote on X, adding that Iran has “clearly outlined our expectations regarding the lifting of sanctions.”
The U.S. has leveled a number of sanctions on Iran and Iranian officials in recent weeks. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions on “over 30 individuals, entities, and vessels enabling illicit Iranian petroleum sales and Iran’s ballistic missile and advanced conventional weapons production.”
There are still some “issues” to be worked out for a deal between Iran and the U.S., according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, but “there was perhaps more seriousness on both sides than before, with the aim of reaching a negotiated solution.”
Thursday’s talks took place while the U.S. continues to amass a significant military presence in the Middle East.
A fourth round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Vienna next week after both countries hold consultations in their own capitals.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Virginia Allen is a senior news producer for The Daily Signal and host of "The Daily Signal Podcast" and "Problematic Women."
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