There are three negotiations in one day in Geneva. Iran and the United States are now turning the corner, and Russia and Ukraine are planning to change the situation.

# CCTV News

Three Major Negotiations Held in Geneva on February 26; Indirect Iran-US Talks Make “Major Progress” While US Military Pressure Persists; Ukraine Says US-Ukraine-Russia Trilateral Talks May Move to Abu Dhabi in Early March

On February 26 local time, Iran and the United States held their third round of indirect negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland. With active mediation by Oman, all parties issued rare optimistic signals, stating that the talks had made “major progress” and were “close to reaching consensus” in some areas. However, outside the negotiating table, the United States continued to escalate its military deployments in the Middle East, highlighting that fundamental differences between the two sides on core issues remain difficult to bridge. On the same day, the United States also held separate meetings with representatives from Ukraine and Russia.

Behind this flurry of diplomatic activity lies the deeper motivation of the US government to accelerate the integration of diplomatic resources in response to its domestic political agenda.

## Indirect Iran-US Talks Conclude; All Parties Issue Positive Signals

△ US Presidential Envoy Witkoff (center), Trump’s son-in-law Kushner (left), and Omani Foreign Minister Badr (right)

The third round of indirect Iran-US talks on the 26th proceeded in two phases, with a several-hour recess in between. Mediated by Oman, the talks were held at the Omani diplomatic mission in Geneva. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Araghchi, while the US side was represented by Presidential Envoy Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Kushner.

### Mediator Says Iran-US Talks Made “Major Progress”

In a statement on the day, the mediator Oman said that the Iranian and US negotiating teams were open to “new and creative ideas and solutions.” After the talks, Omani Foreign Minister Badr announced that the Geneva negotiations had made “major progress.” The US and Iranian delegations will consult with their respective governments and resume talks as soon as possible. Technical-level negotiations will be held in Vienna next week.

### Iran Says Both Sides “Close to Consensus” in Some Areas

△ Araghchi (file photo)

Following the third round of indirect nuclear talks with the US in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that this was the “most serious and longest-lasting” negotiation to date, achieving “good progress,” and that the two sides were “close to reaching consensus” in some areas. Araghchi added that the technical teams of both sides will begin technical-level talks next Monday (March 2).

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Baghaei said that during the third round of indirect Iran-US talks, the two sides put forward and discussed “serious and important proposals” on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief.

### US Officials Call Nuclear Talks “Positive Progress”

△ US Presidential Envoy Witkoff

The United States has yet to issue an official position on the outcome of the third round of indirect Iran-US talks. However, following the morning session, US sources indicated that Presidential Envoy Witkoff and Kushner had been “disappointed” with the Iranian delegation’s statements. But after the full-day talks concluded, a US official described the nuclear negotiations as having made “positive progress”.

## US Military Pressure Continues Outside Talks; Fundamental Differences Hard to Bridge in Short Term

While diplomatic contacts advanced, US military pressure on Iran did not let up. On February 26, the day of the Iran-US talks, the United States carried out frequent military moves in the Middle East.

- The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US’s largest aircraft carrier, left its naval base in Souda Bay, Crete, southern Greece, heading for the Middle East.

- Satellite imagery showed 11 US F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets deployed to Ovda Air Base in southern Israel.

- US officials revealed on the 26th that the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain has been reduced to a “critical mission” staffing level in response to potential Iranian attacks.

The USS Ford is regarded as the “final piece of the puzzle” in US military deployments against Iran. Once in position, it will form a “dual-carrier” configuration in the Middle East alongside the USS Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.

According to CGTN reporter Li Jiannan, Iran’s focus in this round of talks remains on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief. In a commentary, Iran’s official IRNA news agency noted that one of the most important significances of this round of talks is to test whether all parties prefer diplomatic engagement over military confrontation. Iran’s negotiating position centers on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief, while the United States insists that negotiations should be expanded to include missiles and regional influence. The fundamental differences between the two sides are difficult to bridge in the short term.

Analysts point out that against the backdrop of continued US military pressure on Iran and wide gaps between the two sides on key issues, it will be difficult to reach an agreement satisfactory to all parties through negotiations. In addition to the talks, close attention should also be paid to military developments between Iran and the United States.

## US-Ukraine-Russia Trilateral Talks May Be Held in Abu Dhabi

On the same day, US and Ukrainian teams also held talks in Geneva, Switzerland. The talks have concluded, and no specific results have been announced.

△ Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (file photo)

At the start of the talks, Oleksiy Danilov, head of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said that the Ukrainian government’s economic team would focus on discussing Ukraine’s economic recovery with the US side, including mechanisms for economic support, investment attraction tools, and long-term cooperation frameworks.

After the talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately released specific signals regarding the trilateral talks. Zelenskyy said that the next round of US-Ukraine-Russia trilateral talks may be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in early March, adding that “all parties are fully prepared for the negotiations”.

△ Dmitriev

On the US-Russia front, Russian Presidential Special Representative Dmitriev arrived in Geneva on the afternoon of the 26th, met with US representatives at a local hotel, and left after about two hours. He declined to comment on the outcome of the meeting, saying “everything will become clear in due course.” Russian sources indicated that Dmitriev appeared satisfied with the results.

However, regarding the US’s stated hope of ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict within a month, Chen Yu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Eurasian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said this is unlikely. The remaining areas of Donbas are of great importance to Ukraine, and Ukraine has higher expectations for US security guarantees and the US’s role, making it unwilling to make easy concessions. Russia, for its part, would also find it difficult to accept a方案 involving the deployment of troops from multiple European countries as part of security guarantees for Ukraine. Therefore, there is significant room for negotiation among all parties, and it will be difficult to resolve many complex issues within a month.

## US’s Intensive Diplomacy Aims to Boost Election Prospects

From indirect Iran-US talks to bilateral meetings between US-Russia and US-Ukraine representatives, why did the United States arrange multiple important meetings in a single day? Chen Yu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Eurasian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, analyzed that the fundamental reason is that the United States is about to enter the midterm election cycle. Currently, the Republican Party faces severe challenges in the elections, and the Trump administration aims to boost its electoral prospects by delivering diplomatic achievements. In the second half of the year, the Trump administration’s energy may be heavily occupied by the midterm elections. If the Russia-Ukraine and Iran issues are not resolved in the first half, there will be little time to address them in the second half, forcing a compressed schedule and advancing on two fronts simultaneously.

Source: CCTV News

---

## Risk Warning & Disclaimer

The market is risky and investments require caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situations, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their specific circumstances. Any investment decisions made are at one’s own risk.