February 19, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Iran-US nuclear talks may fail due to both nations’ red lines – but that doesn’t make them futile
"Talks do not necessarily need an end point — in the shape of a deal — for them to have purpose," argues an international relations professor.
OpinionBy Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, The Conversation Feb 19, 2026, 12:40 AMIranian daily newspapers report on renewed talks between Iran and the United States. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)Editor’s note: This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here.
The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.The latest rounds of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are going well enough for now, according to the steady drip of public statements from the main parties involved.“I think they want to make a deal,” said U.S. President Donald Trump on the eve of the latest round of discussions held in Geneva on Feb.