The US and Iran will hold their third round of talks on February 25th.

According to Aljazeera, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi has confirmed that further talks between the US and Iran will take place this Thursday (February 25), amid rapidly escalating tensions between the two countries.

"I am very pleased to confirm that the US-Iran negotiations have been scheduled to begin in Geneva this Thursday, with active efforts underway to take the final step toward finalizing an agreement," said Omani Foreign Minister Al Busaidi.

This announcement comes as the US continues to deploy military assets to the Middle East, raising concerns about an all-out war against Iran.

Just hours before the announcement from Oman, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed that Tehran was ready to establish a "comprehensive monitoring mechanism" to ensure the peaceful nature of the nuclear program and to ease current tensions.

When asked by Face the Nation program moderator Margaret Brennan: Why is Iran so determined to enrich uranium on its own territory instead of buying it from abroad, especially in the context of the US military buildup and the imminent risk of direct conflict? Foreign Minister Araghchi emphasized that this is a matter of national "self-respect and pride".

"We developed this technology ourselves using the resources of our scientists. It is extremely valuable because we paid a very high price for it," the Iranian Foreign Minister emphasized.

Araghchi cited the losses Iran has suffered: from two decades of US sanctions and assassinations targeting nuclear scientists, to the US-Israel coalition attacks on nuclear facilities in June 2025.

"We will not give up (the nuclear program); there is no legal reason to do so when everything is proceeding peacefully and under the close supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," the Iranian Foreign Minister asserted.

As a "devoted member" of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Araghchi stated that Iran is "ready to cooperate fully with the monitoring body." However, he also emphasized that under the treaty, Tehran has "every right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, including the right to enrich uranium."

"Uranium enrichment is a sensitive part of the negotiations. The US side understands our position and vice versa. Both sides have had frank exchanges on concerns and I believe a solution is possible," the Iranian Foreign Minister said.

U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have previously hinted that Washington is aiming for a "non-enrichment of uranium" policy with Tehran. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stated that any agreement with Iran must include provisions on ballistic missiles and Iran ceasing its support for regional allies.

However, Araghchi asserted on February 22nd that Iran is "only negotiating on nuclear matters" at the moment. "No other topic is on the table," he told CBS News, while also expressing optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement.

The second round of nuclear negotiations concluded in Geneva on February 17th. Prior to that, the US and Iran had also held indirect contacts in Oman. Mr. Araghchi stated that the Iranian delegation was working to develop a draft agreement that included "elements that reconcile the concerns and interests of both sides" in order to reach a "quick agreement."

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