Iran’s FM says deal with US ‘within reach’ if diplomacy ‘given priority’

Foreign Minister Araghchi’s remarks on eve of Geneva talks come as second US aircraft carrier heads towards Middle East.

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi has said that a deal with the United States to avert conflict is “within reach”, on the eve of talks between the two countries in Geneva, Switzerland.

Araghchi said that the “historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement” would depend on whether “diplomacy is given priority”, in a possible reference to US President Donald Trump’s ongoing threats to use military force against Iran.

In a statement shared on social media on Tuesday, Iran’s top diplomat added that his country remained “crystal clear” that it would “under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon“, while also recognising the right of Iran’s people to the benefits of “peaceful nuclear technology”.

Indirect talks scheduled for Thursday in Geneva will be the third round of discussions between Washington and Tehran mediated by Oman, which has said it hopes to see “a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal”.

Araghchi has been leading the negotiations on behalf of Iran, while White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have been representing the US.