Key facts
- Iran's foreign minister stated a deal with the U.S. is "never been closer."
- A senior U.S. official confirmed a deal with Iran is close but not yet finalized.
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot sees accumulating positive signs and a willingness from both sides to reach an agreement.
- Barrot urged both parties to seize the opportunity for a breakthrough.
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has indicated that positive signs are accumulating in the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, suggesting a growing willingness from both sides to reach an agreement. Barrot expressed this optimism, urging both parties to seize the opportunity to resolve the current situation, which he described as untenable and creating only losers. He conveyed this message directly to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, who had previously stated that a deal with the U.S. has "never been closer." A senior U.S. official corroborated that a deal is close to finalization, though not yet complete, adding a U.S. perspective to the diplomatic efforts.