GENEVA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The third round of indirect Iran-U.S. nuclear talks under the mediation of Oman began in Geneva, Switzerland, according to local media reports on Thursday.

The third round of the negotiations comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States in the wake of a U.S. military buildup in West Asia. The first and second rounds of talks were held earlier this month in Muscat and Geneva.