Iran's Top Diplomat Says Tehran is Drafting Framework for Future Talks with Washington

Tehran is preparing a framework for future talks with Washington, Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi stated on Wednesday during a telephone conversation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

According to a statement released by Iran's Foreign Ministry, “In the conversation with IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi, Araghchi emphasized Iran's focus on drafting a preliminary and coherent framework to advance future negotiations.”

This phone call took place a day after the second round of talks between Iran and the United States, mediated by Oman, concluded in Geneva.

Araghchi said on Tuesday, “Tehran has agreed on the 'guiding principles' for a deal to avoid conflict.”

Regarding this, US Vice President JD Vance stated, “Tehran has not yet accepted all of Washington's 'red lines'.”

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright also stated on Wednesday that Washington will prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons “one way or another.”

According to the Iranian mission in Vienna, Iran's Permanent Representative to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, held a joint meeting in Vienna on Wednesday with Grossi and the ambassadors of friendly nations China and Russia to exchange views on the upcoming meeting of the agency's Board of Governors and developments related to Iran's nuclear program.

Tehran has suspended some cooperation with the IAEA and restricted access for watchdog inspectors to sites bombed during the 12-day war in June by Israel and the United States. Iran has accused the UN body of being biased regarding the attack on Iran and failing to condemn the attack.

Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to prevent the possibility of US military intervention in Iran amid Washington's military buildup in the region in recent weeks.