Iran says ‘guiding principles’ agreed with US, but Vance warns Tehran ignoring Trump’s red lines

Highlights:

• Iran and the US held a second round of nuclear talks in Geneva.
• Iran says both sides agreed on “guiding principles” for a possible deal.
• Draft texts for a potential agreement will now be prepared and exchanged.
• JD Vance says Iran is not accepting President Donald Trump’s “red lines.”
• The US insists Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.

Iran said on Tuesday, (17), that it reached an understanding with the United States on basic “guiding principles” during a second round of talks about Tehran’s nuclear program. The discussions took place in Geneva and are part of ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two countries.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as constructive but said more work is needed before a final agreement can be reached. Speaking to state television after the meeting, he said both sides agreed to move forward by preparing draft texts for a possible deal.

“Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a potential agreement,” Araghchi said. He added that each side will prepare draft documents, exchange them, and then decide on a date for a third round of talks.

While Iran expressed cautious optimism, the United States signaled that serious differences still remain. US Vice President JD Vance said that although some progress was made, Iran has not yet accepted key demands set by President Donald Trump.

Speaking to Fox News, Vance said the talks “went well” in some ways because both sides agreed to continue discussions. However, he stressed that Iran is still not ready to acknowledge or work through Trump’s “red lines.”

One of those red lines is clear: Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. According to Vance, allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons could trigger a wider arms race, not just in the Middle East but around the world. He warned that such a development would increase global instability.

“The president of the United States is very much trying to find a solution here,” Vance said. He explained that Trump prefers a diplomatic solution but has not ruled out other options if diplomacy fails.

Vance emphasized that the administration is committed to preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed state. He also said that Trump has the authority to decide when diplomacy has reached its limit. “We hope we don’t get to that point,” Vance said, but added that the final decision would rest with the president.

The second round of talks shows that both countries are willing to continue negotiations, even though major disagreements remain. Iran appears focused on keeping the diplomatic process alive and working step by step toward a possible agreement. At the same time, the United States is maintaining firm conditions that it says are necessary for global security.

For now, both sides are preparing draft proposals. A third round of talks is expected once those drafts are exchanged. Whether the negotiations will lead to a final deal depends on how both countries handle the key issues still dividing them.