In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, center, heads to the venue for talks between Iran and the U.S., in Muscat, Oman, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (File photo: AP)

GENEVA/TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The second round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States began in Geneva on Tuesday, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The negotiations are being held at Oman's embassy in the Swiss city and mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, the report said.

U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner represent Washington in the negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leads a "diplomatic and specialized" delegation to the talks. After entering the Omani embassy, Araghchi met with the Omani foreign minister, Fars said.

According to Fars, the talks are focused solely on Iran's nuclear issue and the removal of U.S. sanctions.

Speaking to BBC on Sunday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi confirmed that Iran could discuss diluting its 60 percent-enriched uranium as the country's proof of flexibility, but flatly ruled out zero enrichment on Iranian soil.

The new round of negotiations comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, as well as a U.S. military buildup in West Asia.

The first round of talks was held in Muscat, Oman's capital, on Feb. 6 and was described by both sides as a "good start," but it yielded no visible breakthrough.