Key facts
- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian stated the country would not accept humiliation and has learned to preserve its dignity.
- A memorandum of understanding with Washington is an important step towards stopping war and beginning negotiations, according to Pezeshkian.
- A final agreement between Iran and the US has not yet been reached.
- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi believes a deal with the US is achievable if diplomacy is prioritized.
- Araghchi briefed Iran's parliament on the ongoing diplomatic process with the US.
- The upcoming Geneva talks are the third round of discussions between Iran and the US, mediated by Oman.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated that a deal with the United States to avert conflict is "within reach," ahead of a third round of talks scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Araghchi emphasized that this "historic opportunity" depends on diplomacy being prioritized, while also reaffirming Iran's commitment to peaceful nuclear technology and its vow never to develop nuclear weapons.
Araghchi briefed members of Iran's parliament on the diplomatic process, and also discussed a memorandum of understanding with his Omani counterpart, with both affirming continued coordination for regional stability. The upcoming Geneva talks are being mediated by Oman, which hopes for a positive push towards finalizing a deal.
US President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address, stated his preference for diplomacy but accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons and warned that he would "never allow" such a development. He referenced a US attack on Iran's nuclear sites in June 2025, stating that Iran was attempting to rebuild its program.
The negotiations are taking place amid a significant US military build-up in the region, with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier heading towards the Middle East. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has been conducting military drills, describing their efforts as building a "strong fortress."
Meanwhile, Iranian university students have engaged in protests, reviving slogans from earlier nationwide demonstrations. A government spokeswoman acknowledged students' right to protest but cautioned them against crossing "red lines."