US-Iran tensions Highlights: Iran, US talks ended after ‘significant progress,’ next round set for Vienna

Coverage of US-Iran tensions on this blog has ended.

"We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran," Badr Albusaidi, Oman's foreign minister, said in a post on X, adding that "discussions on a technical level will take place next week in Vienna".

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi described the discussions as constructive, saying the two sides had been exchanging "creative and positive ideas" and expressed hope for progress.

A senior Iranian official characterized the negotiations as "intense and serious," signaling the discussions are being taken very seriously by Tehran.

The Iranian official added, "There were new ideas that need to be consulted with Tehran. Still some gaps remain that need to be narrowed".

Amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, several countries are advising citizens to avoid travel to Iran and other volatile Middle East regions, while also withdrawing dependents of diplomatic staff.

So far, countries including Finland, Australia, Serbia, Poland, the US, Sweden, India, Cyprus, Singapore, Germany, and Brazil have issued travel warnings or evacuation instructions, citing security risks and the potential for escalating conflicts.

Gold prices were little changed on Thursday as investors adopted a cautious stance.

Markets were awaiting the third round of indirect US–Iran nuclear talks in Geneva for signals on geopolitical tensions.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $5,181.29 per ounce at 11:23 a.m. ET (1423 GMT).

US gold futures for April delivery fell 0.5% to $5,198.20 per ounce.

Spot silver declined 2.4% to $87.25 per ounce.

Spot platinum dropped 1.5% to $2,252.28 per ounce.

Palladium fell 2.1% to $1,757.75 per ounce.

The cost of hiring a supertanker from the Middle East to China crossed $200,000 per day on Thursday.

This is the first time rates have breached that level since 2020.

Freight rates surged amid growing fears of potential US attacks on Iran.

Rising geopolitical tensions have heightened risks for oil shipments from the region. (Reuters)

The United States Department of the Treasury has proposed a rule to cut MBaer Merchant Bank AG off from the US financial system.

The Swiss bank is accused of supporting illicit actors linked to Iran and Russia.

If finalised, US financial institutions would be barred from maintaining correspondent banking relationships with MBaer.

The move would effectively block the bank’s access to dollar-based transactions. (Reuters)

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the United States and Iran could reach a framework agreement if Washington separates “nuclear and non-nuclear issues.”

The official indicated that remaining gaps still need to be narrowed.

The differences are expected to be addressed during the third round of talks in Geneva.

“If you can't even make progress on the nuclear programme, it's going to be hard to make progress on the ballistic missiles as well,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Saint Kitts.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday Iran’s refusal to discuss its ballistic missile programme is a “major problem” that will have to be addressed eventually.

He claimed the missiles are “designed solely to strike America” and warned they pose a threat to regional stability.

Rubio made the comments while speaking to reporters in Saint Kitts.

Oil prices declined on Thursday following a sharp rise in US crude inventories, while traders assessed US-Iran talks.

Brent crude fell 95 cents, or 1.3%, to $69.90 a barrel by 1351 GMT.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped $1.06, or 1.6%, to $64.36.

US crude inventories increased by 16 million barrels last week.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told Press TV that the talks will focus solely on nuclear-related issues, lifting of sanctions.

Baghaei said Tehran is entering the negotiations with “seriousness and flexibility.”

US reiterates its stance that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Iran is “always trying to rebuild elements” of its nuclear program. He said that Tehran is not enriching uranium right now, “but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can.”

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva.

The meeting was part of ongoing indirect nuclear discussions.

Al-Busaidi later described the exchanges as constructive. He said, “We’ve been exchanging creative and positive ideas in Geneva today.” "We hope to make more progress."

Tehran aims to attract Trump with financial incentives linked to its oil and gas reserves as negotiations on its nuclear program continue. However, a senior US official stated that no commercial offers have been made amidst escalating threats and military buildup. Read here

“There would be no victory for anybody — it would be a devastating war,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told India Today in an interview filmed Wednesday just before he flew to Geneva.

“Since the Americans' bases are scattered through different places in the region, then unfortunately perhaps the whole region would be engaged and be involved, so it is a very terrible scenario.”

US-Iran tensions LIVE: US President Donald Trump wants a deal to constrain Iran's nuclear programme, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests last month.

Iran meanwhile has maintained it wants to continue to enrich uranium even as its program sits in ruins following Trump ordering an attack in June on three of the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites, reported PTI

Iran has entered the third round of indirect nuclear talks with the US with "seriousness and flexibility", foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told Press TV on Thursday. He said that negotiations will only focus on nuclear topics and sanctions removal.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that Tehran was not seeking nuclear weapons in line with the policy set by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

"Our Supreme Leader has already stated that we will not have nuclear weapons at all," Pezeshkian said in a speech, as per news agency AFP.

"Even if I wanted to move in that direction, I could not -- from a doctrinal standpoint, I would not be permitted," he explained.

His comments come ahead of US-Iran talks in Geneva.

Oil prices inched up on Thursday as investors gauged whether US-Iran talks could avert a military conflict that risks supply disruptions, though gains were capped by a build in U.S. crude inventories, reported Reuters.

Brent futures were trading at $71.06 per barrel, up 21 cents, or 0.3%, at 0720 GMT.

WTI futures rose 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $65.58 per barrel.

Two bases in Israel are seeing inbound US Air Force airlift traffic: the Nevatim Air Base and Ovda Air Base, as per OSINT flight tracking page Military Air Tracking Alliance.

Ovda is seeing flights from Langley AFB and Seymour Johnson AFB.

The final destination of the F-15s deployed from Seymour Johnson AFB on North Carolina is likely to be Ovda Air Base in Israel, with the already deployed F-22s, as per the latest update by OSINT flight tracking page Military Air Tracking Alliance.

Eleven F-22 jets from the 94th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base were deployed to the Ovda Air Base in Israel, as per data obtained from public sources by Military Air Tracking Alliance, a collaboration of OSINT flight trackers worldwide.

There are 13 pending US Army flights, and 12 pending US Air Force flights related to the build-up in the Middle East, as per data obtained from public sources by Military Air Tracking Alliance, a collaboration of OSINT flight trackers worldwide.

Since January 15, there have 300 C-17/C-5 military transport flights from US bases in the United States, Japan and Europe related to the build up of forces in the Middle East, as per data obtained from public sources by Military Air Tracking Alliance, a collaboration of OSINT flight trackers worldwide.

Ahead of the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Iran continues to pose a “very grave threat” to the United States, citing both its nuclear ambitions and extensive missile and naval capabilities.

“Iran poses a very grave threat to the United States, and has for a very long time…" Rubio said on Wednesday (local time).

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Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has said his country aims to achieve a fair, swift deal, but reiterated that it would not forgo its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

“Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon; neither will we Iranians ever forgo our right to harness the dividends of peaceful nuclear technology for our people,” Araqchi said in a post on X.

“We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests. A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” the FM added.

However, Washington views nuclear enrichment inside Iran as a potential pathway to the development of nuclear weapons.

For Thursday's talks in Geneva, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to participate, alongside Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, as per a Reuters report that cited a US official.

Meanwhile, Oman’s foreign minister Badr Albusaidi will step back into his shoes as mediator.

Rafael Grossi, the chief of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will also be in the Swiss city to hold separate talks with both delegations.