Iran has signaled it is prepared to pursue a nuclear agreement with the United States that would deliver economic benefits to both sides, days before a second round of talks in Geneva aimed at resolving their long-running dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Negotiations resumed earlier this month through indirect discussions in Oman, with a follow-up meeting confirmed for Tuesday in Switzerland.
The renewed diplomacy comes against a backdrop of heightened military tensions, including an expanded U.S. military presence in the region and warnings from President Donald Trump that strikes remain possible if no agreement is reached.
Hamid Ghanbari, Iran’s foreign ministry deputy director for economic diplomacy, said Tehran believes a durable agreement must also benefit Washington in areas with “high and quick economic returns.”
He said potential cooperation could include oil and gas development, joint energy fields, mining investments and aircraft purchases.
Iranian officials argue that the 2015 nuclear accord, which Trump withdrew from in 2018 before reimposing sanctions, did not secure lasting economic interests for the United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump preferred diplomacy but acknowledged the difficulty of reaching a deal, noting that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were traveling for further discussions.
Meanwhile, Washington is increasing economic pressure, including efforts to curb Iran’s oil exports to China, which accounts for more than 80% of Tehran’s oil sales.
Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC that Iran is ready to discuss compromises, including diluting its 60%-enriched uranium stockpile, if sanctions relief is addressed.
However, he reiterated that zero uranium enrichment remains a red line for Tehran, despite Trump’s recent comments that “we don't want any enrichment.”
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and insists talks focus solely on the nuclear file, rejecting discussions of its ballistic missile programme.
While both sides have described recent talks as positive, significant gaps remain, and officials on both sides have cautioned that it is too early to predict an outcome.