Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi adjusts glasses during a press conference following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 17, 2025. Reuters-Yonhap
GENEVA — Iran and the United States reached an understanding on Tuesday on main "guiding principles" in talks aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute, but that does not mean a deal is imminent, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said.
Oil futures fell and the benchmark Brent crude contract tumbled more than 1 percent after Araqchi's comments, which helped ease fears of conflict in the region, where the U.S. has deployed a battle force to press Tehran for concessions.
"Different ideas have been presented, these ideas have been seriously discussed, ultimately we've been able to reach a general agreement on some guiding principles," Araqchi told Iranian media after the talks concluded in Geneva.
A U.S. official said Iran would make detailed proposals in the next two weeks to close gaps in the nuclear talks.
"Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss," said the official, who declined to be identified.
Both sides have 'clear next steps'
The indirect discussions between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, alongside Araqchi, were mediated by Oman. The White House did not respond to emailed questions about the meeting.
Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said in a post on X "much work is yet to be done" but Iran and the U.S. were leaving with "clear next steps."
Just as talks began on Tuesday, Iranian state media said Iran would temporarily shut part of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil supply route, due to "security precautions" while Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards conducted military drills there.
Source: Korea Times News
