Cairo: The United States and Iran will press ahead with negotiations despite clashing visions on a nuclear deal and a major US military buildup in the region, underscoring the talks' fragility.
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi announced on Sunday that the next round of US-Iran talks is scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. “Pleased to confirm US-Iran negotiations are now set for Geneva this Thursday, with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal,” he posted on X.
In a Sunday call, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized “constructive engagement and using the path of dialogue” for a lasting nuclear pact, per Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Araghchi, in a Friday MSNBC interview, said Tehran would draft a potential deal within days and share it with the US. He reiterated this on CBS News Sunday, expressing openness to diplomacy and a possible meeting with US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva.
The proposed deal, Araghchi said, should affirm Iran’s “peaceful nuclear program,” lift US sanctions, and uphold Tehran’s uranium enrichment rights. “This time, there is no need for that many details, and we can agree on basic things,” he noted, aiming for a stronger accord than the 2015 deal. He warned of Iran’s self-defense rights, adding, “We have to hit, you know, the American base in the region” if attacked.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed optimism on Sunday via social media: Recent talks yielded “encouraging signals,” but Iran is ready for “any potential scenario” while monitoring US moves.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that gaps persist over sanctions relief’s “scope and mechanism,” urging a “reasonable” timeline based on mutual interests.
Washington demands a uranium enrichment ban, stockpile removal, missile curbs, and reduced proxy support—demands analysts deem tough for Iran.
These efforts unfold against rising US military presence, including fighter jets and transports at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base—100 km northeast of Amman—and buildups at other regional sites. This follows indirect talks in Muscat (February 6) and Geneva (February 17).
(Inputs from IANS)