Tehran, Iran. Iran is pursuing a nuclear agreement with the United States that delivers economic benefits for both sides, an Iranian diplomat was reported as saying on Sunday ahead of renewed talks.
Iran and the United States resumed negotiations earlier this month aimed at addressing their long-running dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme and avoiding a new military confrontation.
Iran outlines economic areas cited in negotiations
Foreign ministry deputy director for economic diplomacy Hamid Ghanbari said an agreement would be more durable if the United States also benefits in areas with high and quick economic returns, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
Ghanbari said common interests in oil and gas fields, joint fields, mining investments, and aircraft purchases were included in the negotiations, and argued that the 2015 nuclear pact with world powers had not secured U.S. economic interests.
Iran has threatened retaliation against any U.S. attack, though Ghanbari struck a conciliatory note on Sunday.
U.S. preparations and diplomatic messaging
U.S. officials told Reuters the United States has dispatched a second aircraft carrier to the region and is preparing for the possibility of a sustained military campaign if the talks do not succeed.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a news conference in Bratislava, said President Donald Trump had made it clear he would prefer diplomacy and a negotiated settlement. Rubio said, “No one’s ever been able to do a successful deal with Iran but we’re going to try.”
Background and next meeting
In 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 pact that had eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, and re-applied tough economic sanctions on Tehran.
A source told Reuters on Friday that a U.S. delegation including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would meet Iranian officials in Geneva on Tuesday, and a senior Iranian official confirmed the meeting to Reuters on Sunday. Rubio said Witkoff and Kushner would be traveling for meetings, without providing further details.
What outcome do you expect from the upcoming Geneva meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials?
