Iran meets UN nuclear chief before next round of US talks

Eltaf Najafizada and Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg News on Feb 16, 2026

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with the head of the U.N.’s atomic watchdog in Geneva on Monday, ahead of a second round of nuclear negotiations with the U.S.

During his meeting with Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Araghchi discussed “proposals” he’ll present at his next indirect talks with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday, Iranian state TV reported.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters he’s “hopeful” Tehran and Washington can overcome years of tense confrontation and hostility and eventually broker an agreement.

“It’s been very difficult for anyone to do real deals with Iran because we’re dealing with radical clerics who are making theological decisions, not geopolitical ones, but let’s see what happens. I hope it works out. We all hope it works out,” Rubio said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to strike the Islamic Republic unless it agrees to a deal curbing Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. He’s mobilized warships and fighter jets near Iran in response to a recent deadly crackdown by the regime there following mass protests.

Underscoring elevated tensions in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted drills around the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The exercises included “smart control” of the strategic waterway and focused on a “rapid, decisive and comprehensive response” to potential security threats, the report said.

Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner is expected to join Witkoff in leading the U.S. delegation on Tuesday.

The first round of talks marked a “good start,” Iran has said, adding that discussions were limited to nuclear issues — a condition the Islamic Republic has insisted on. Still, the U.S. and Israel say the talks should also cover Iran’s missile program and support for regional militias.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he proposed terms that Iran shouldn’t possess enriched material or nuclear enrichment capabilities during a meeting with Trump last week.

The U.S. is pressuring Iran to reach an agreement to roll back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions or face a “very traumatic” situation if it fails to do so, Trump said, adding that negotiations could stretch for as long as a month.

Iran has prevented IAEA inspectors from verifying the status of its uranium stockpile or visiting sites bombed by Israel and the U.S. A law passed shortly after the 12-day war broke out requires agency monitors to negotiate access each time they want to visit Iranian nuclear facilities.

While that’s given them access to undamaged places like the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant and Tehran research reactor, Iran has claimed it’s still too dangerous to visit bombed enrichment sites in Fordow and Natanz, as well as its main uranium-processing facility in Isfahan.

The IAEA’s Grossi has said the damaged sites are safe enough to inspect and Iran is long past due to allow a resumption of inspections.

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—With assistance from Jonathan Tirone and Eric Martin.