Iran–US Nuclear Talks to Resume in Geneva Amid IRGC Military Exercises in Strait of Hormuz

Geneva: Iran’s top diplomat has arrived in Geneva ahead of a second round of indirect negotiations with the United States, even as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has begun military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, in a stark reminder of the regional tensions shadowing diplomatic efforts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Geneva on Monday with a diplomatic and technical delegation to resume talks mediated by International Atomic Energy Agency and Omani Foreign Ministry officials. The discussions, slated to begin Tuesday, aim to break a long-standing impasse over Tehran’s nuclear program — an issue at the centre of frictions with Washington. Araghchi underscored Iran’s intention to secure “a fair and equitable deal” and said the talks would focus on reaching substantive technical agreements without yielding to pressure.

Meanwhile, on the eve of the negotiations, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched naval drills in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies transit. State media described the exercises as “Smart Control of the Strait,” aimed at testing operational responsiveness to “potential security and military threats” and reinforcing Iran’s geopolitical leverage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. The manoeuvres are being conducted under the supervision of senior IRGC commanders.