Iran said a nuclear deal with the United States is “within reach” ahead of a new round of US-Iran talks scheduled in Geneva, signalling potential diplomatic progress amid heightened military tensions in the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in a social media statement on Tuesday, two days before negotiators from Tehran and Washington are due to resume discussions in Switzerland. “We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests,” Abbas Araghchi said, adding that an agreement was “within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority.”
The upcoming Geneva talks will mark the third round since negotiations restarted earlier this month. The diplomatic effort comes against the backdrop of a significant United States military deployment in the region and warnings from President Donald Trump that Washington could consider military action if negotiations fail.
Iran’s foreign ministry stated earlier this week that any strike, including a limited one, would be regarded as an act of aggression. Abbas Araghchi reiterated that Iran would “under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon" while maintaining the country’s right to peaceful nuclear technology under international law.
The renewed diplomatic push follows five rounds of nuclear talks last year that collapsed after a major escalation involving Israel and Iran, triggering a 12-day conflict. Western governments have long expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear programme could lead to weapons capability, an allegation Tehran has consistently rejected.
Alongside diplomatic developments, domestic tensions have resurfaced in Tehran, where university students have held protests at the start of the new academic term. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said students have the right to protest but warned against crossing “red lines", including acts involving national symbols.
The United States has expanded its military presence in the Middle East in recent weeks. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed to the Arabian Sea, while the USS Gerald R. Ford has moved towards the region via a US base in Crete. The build-up reflects Washington’s strategy of combining diplomatic engagement with deterrence.
The outcome of the Geneva talks carries significant geopolitical and energy market implications. Escalation risks could affect global oil supply routes in the Gulf region, while a diplomatic breakthrough could ease sanctions pressure on Iranian energy exports and influence crude price stability.
