Iran's FM heads to Geneva for 2nd round of US nuclear talks

TEHRAN, Feb -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi left Tehran on Sunday for Geneva for a second round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States, as well as separate diplomatic meetings, the Foreign Ministry said.

The talks are scheduled for Tuesday and will be held with Oman's "mediation and good offices," the ministry said in a statement.

Araghchi is leading a "diplomatic and specialized" delegation and is due to meet Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, and other officials in Geneva.

Iranian and US delegations, headed by Araghchi and US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, held a first round of talks in the Omani capital Muscat on Feb. 6.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi told the BBC on Sunday that the first round had moved "more or less in a positive direction" and that Tehran was approaching the Geneva talks in hopes of reaching a deal.

He said it was now up to Washington to show it was serious about an agreement, adding that US "sincerity" could pave the way for a breakthrough.