Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivers a speech during a session of the U.N. Conference on Disarmament, on the sideline of a second round of U.S.–Iranian talks, in Geneva on Feb. 17, 2026. Valentin Flauraud/AFP via Getty Images
U.S. and Iranian delegations concluded a third round of indirect talks in Geneva on Feb. 26, without a diplomatic breakthrough to avoid potential armed conflict in the Middle East.
The U.S. military has been ramping up its force footprint in the Middle East since January, as U.S. President Donald Trump has pursued a new deal to halt Iran’s nuclear programs. Talks in Geneva came the same week the Trump administration raised allegations that Iran is trying to rebuild its nuclear program and pursue a warhead after the June 2025 U.S. strikes on three of its nuclear sites.
