Live: US-Iran hold third round of talks as Trump deploys warships in Mideast - France 24

Oman’s foreign minister said Iranian and US negotiators were exchanging “creative and positive ideas” during talks in Geneva on Thursday. Oman is mediating the indirect talks amid a massive US military buid-up in the Middle East. The two sides took a break following morning negotiations and will resume talks later Thursday, said the Omani foreign minister. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Iran-US talks to resume around 5pm GMT, foreign ministry says

Iranian and US delegations have held consultations with their respective capitals during a pause in talks which will resume around 5pm GMT, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said.

"Both delegations needed to carry out consultations with their respective capitals," Esmaeil Baqaei told state TV, adding that "the talks will resume around 5:30 or 6pm local time" (around 4:30 or 5pm GMT).

Baqaei described the first session of negotiations, which lasted about three hours, as "intensive and very serious".

Crimes against humanity complaint filed in Switzerland against Iran deputy minister

A complaint has been filed in Switzerland accusing Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi of crimes against humanity linked to anti-government protests in his country in recent years, lawyers said Thursday.

The complaint, filed by an Iranian-Swiss citizen, said Gharibabadi "may have committed serious crimes contrary to international law" linked to protests over the death in custody of a woman, Mahsa Amini, the lawyers told AFP, demanding the arrest of the deputy minister who has been in Geneva this week.

It suggested he could be "a co-perpetrator or, at the very least, that his responsibility could be engaged due to his position as a hierarchical superior at the time of the events".

Iran-US indirect talks: What are the current sticking points?

Omani mediator cites progress in indirect Iran-US talks

Oman’s foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the negotiations in Geneva, said the two sides have been exchanging “creative and positive ideas”.

“We hope to make more progress,” he added.

Al-Busaidi said the talks were paused but would resume later in the day.

Iranian state TV says indirect nuclear talks with the US will resume after a break

Iranian state television has reported that indirect talks with the United States will resume later in the day after both sides take a break. It wasn’t clear what the reason for the break was.

Convoy believed to be holding US diplomats leaves location of indirect Iran talks in Geneva

A convoy believed to be carrying US diplomats has left an Omani diplomatic residence in Geneva that was hosting indirect talks with Iran over its nuclear program.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the talks were over for the day. Both the Iranian and the American delegations had been at the residence for hours.

Iran-US talks pause, to resume later Thursday, Oman FM says

Mediator Oman said American and Iranian negotiators were taking a break and would resume discussions later on Thursday.

"We've been exchanging creative and positive ideas in Geneva today, and now both US and Iranian negotiators have adjourned for a break. We'll resume later today. We hope to make more progress," Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X.

Russian claims of nuclear transfers to Ukraine are 'baseless', France says

France hit back on Thursday over what it called baseless Russian accusations that Ukraine was seeking a nuclear weapon or dirty bomb with help from London or Paris, calling it the latest example of Russian disinformation.

In a statement published on the fourth anniversary of the war, Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service said Britain and France believed that Ukraine would be able to secure more favourable terms if Kyiv possessed "a nuclear bomb, or at least a so-called 'dirty bomb'". It did not include documentary evidence to back its assertion.

"This baseless statement from the SVR has been picked up by various Russian propaganda outlets on X and by some foreign news agencies," Olivia Penichou, communications director at the French ministry of defence, told reporters on Thursday.

"The Russian Federation frequently resorts to disinformation to foster a climate of mistrust toward the actions taken by France and its partners in support of Ukraine. This latest attempt is a perfect illustration of that."

UN nuclear chief Grossi at Iran-US talks, source says

UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi has joined the new round of indirect talks taking place Thursday between Iran and the United States in Geneva, a source close to the talks told AFP.

An Iranian state TV reporter also said that Grossi had "joined the talks, effectively serving as a technical observer who can help advance the discussions more precisely and seriously".

Oman foreign ministry publishes images of Witkoff, Kushner, signaling indirect talks underway

Oman's foreign ministry has published images of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva, signaling indirect talks are currently underway.

In a post on X, the ministry said Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi met Witkoff and Kushner in Geneva this morning.

"The meeting addressed a review of the Iranian side's perspectives and proposals, along with the responses and inquiries from the US negotiating team regarding the handling of the key elements of Iran's nuclear programme," said the foreign ministry.

The two sides expressed an "openness to new and creative ideas and solutions", said the statement.

Iran puts 'ball in Trump's court' ahead of third round of US talks

Ahead of Iran-US indirect talks in Geneva, Tehran has said it's willing to make concessions on uranium enrichment and inspections. But Iran is not flexible about its ballistic missile programme, which Tehran views as a major deterrent. Iran appears to be "putting the ball" in US President Donald Trump's court, says FRANCE 24's Reza Sayah, reporting from Tehran.

Indirect Iran-US talks in Geneva begin, sources say

Indirect taks between the US and Iran in Geneva, according to diplomatic sources and Iranian media reports.

Russia and Ukraine exchange bodies of war dead, Kremlin aide says

Russia has handed Ukraine the bodies of 1,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers in exchange for those of 35 Russians, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky has said.

The two sides have periodically exchanged their war dead in the course of the conflict, which passed its four-year anniversary this week.

US talks to focus solely on nuclear issue, Iran foreign ministry says

The third round of talks with the US will focus solely on the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions on Tehran, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said.

"The subject of the negotiations... is focused on the nuclear issue," said Esmaeil Baqaei, adding that Tehran will push for lifting sanctions and asserting Iran's right "to peaceful use of nuclear energy".

He added that Iran's delegation has relayed these views to the Omani foreign minister mediating the talks.

UN nuclear chief 'likely' to join talks, Iran says

UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi will likely attend the third round of Iran-US talks in Geneva, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said.

"It is also likely that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency will join these talks, as was the case in the previous round," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state TV.

Iran president reiterates Iran's opposition to building nuclear weapons

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has banned weapons of mass destruction, which "clearly means Tehran won't develop nuclear weapons", President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday.

Pezeshkian was speaking ahead of a third round of indirect talks with the US in Geneva.

Khamenei, who has the last say on Tehran's nuclear programme, banned the development of nuclear weapons in a fatwa, or religious decree, in the early 2000s.

Iranian FM Araghchi meets Omani counterpart ahead of indirect talks

Iran's official IRNA news agency reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi in Geveva on Wednesday night ahead of today's talks.

Oman is mediating the indirect US-Iran talks in Switzerland.

Iran's refusal to discuss missiles a 'big, big problem', Rubio says

On the eve of today's high-stakes talks in Geneva, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday warned that Iran must negotiate on its missile programme.

"I would say that the Iranian insistence on not discussing ballistic missiles is a big, big problem," Rubio told reporters on the eve of new talks between the United States and Iran.

Rubio, however, steered clear of describing if the talks in Geneva would be a make-or-break moment in deciding if the United States attacks Iran.

"The president wants diplomatic solutions. He prefers them greatly," Rubio said.

As for the talks, "hopefully they're productive, but eventually we'll have to have conversations about more than just a nuclear program."

On a potential strike on Iran, Rubio said: "The president's made no decision on that, so I don't know if Thursday's the key date for that. I think progress needs to be made."

Yesterday's key developments:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday that Iran's refusal to speak with the US about ballistic missiles is "a big problem".

“Whatever they’re alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear programme, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’,” wrote Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on X.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had a “favourable outlook for the negotiations” that could finally “move beyond this ‘neither war nor peace’ situation”.