Iran says it will resume nuclear talks with US for ‘fair and equitable’ deal in ‘shortest possible time’

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Tehran will resume talks with the United States in Geneva “with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal in the shortest possible time.”

In a series of posts on US social media company X, Araghchi said the new round of talks will be “pillared on the understandings forged in the previous (two) rounds” in Muscat and Geneva respectively.

Tehran and Washington are set to hold a third round of indirect nuclear negotiations under Omani mediation in the Swiss capital on Thursday.

Following the last round of talks, both sides issued a positive assessment, saying they had agreed on “guiding principles” which the Iranian side hoped could pave the way toward a potential agreement.

Araghchi said Iran’s “fundamental convictions” are clear, noting that the country will “under no circumstances ever” develop a nuclear weapon, and the Iranian people will never relinquish their right to “harness the dividends of peaceful nuclear technology for our people.”

“We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests,” he said.

“A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” Araghchi said.

The top diplomat added that Tehran has proven that it will “stop at nothing” to protect its sovereignty amid concerns of a possible US attack on Iran.

“We bring the same courage to the negotiating table, where we will pursue a peaceful resolution to any differences,” he stated.

The indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington come amid a massive US military buildup in the Persian Gulf region, as well as extensive drills by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in recent days.

In an interview with US broadcaster NPR early Tuesday, Araghchi’s deputy for political affairs and key member of the negotiating team Majid Takht-Ravanchi said Tehran is ready to reach a nuclear deal with Washington “as soon as possible.”

He said Iran will do “whatever is necessary” to make that happen, adding that the Iranian delegation will enter the negotiating room in Geneva with “full sincerity and good faith,” while hoping the goodwill will be reciprocated by the American side.

“If there is political will on all sides, I believe an agreement can be reached very quickly,” he said.