Iranian FM Araghchi believes US-Iran deal is 'within reach' if diplomacy prioritized
Third round of indirect US-Iran talks scheduled in Geneva with Omani mediation
US military presence in Middle East intensifies with second aircraft carrier deployment
Iran maintains it won't develop nuclear weapons while conducting military drills
📖 Full Retelling
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that a deal with the United States to avert conflict is "within reach" if diplomacy is given priority, in remarks made ahead of scheduled talks in Geneva, Switzerland on February 25, 2026, as tensions escalate with a second US aircraft carrier heading toward the Middle East. Araghchi emphasized that a "historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement" depends on whether diplomacy is prioritized, widely seen as a reference to President Trump's ongoing military threats against Iran. In a social media statement, Iran's top diplomat reiterated his country's position that it would "under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon" while maintaining its right to peaceful nuclear technology. The third round of indirect talks, mediated by Oman, aims to finalize an agreement that could potentially prevent further conflict between the two nations. In Washington, President Trump delivered a mixed message in his State of the Union address, expressing a preference for diplomacy while accusing Iran of developing missiles capable of reaching the US mainland. Trump referenced the June 2025 US strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, claiming the US had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program and warning Tehran against rebuilding it. As diplomatic efforts continue, the US Navy has deployed its largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, to a NATO base in Crete en route to the Middle East, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps conducts military drills in the south, describing the region as a "strong fortress." The diplomatic maneuvers occur against a backdrop of public dissatisfaction in Iran, with recent protests across the country initially driven by economic hardship, including the collapse of one of Iran's largest banks following US-induced dollar shortages. Al Jazeera's Tohid Asadi reported from Tehran that the public mood oscillates between "fear of war" and "hope for diplomacy," with ongoing demonstrations at universities indicating continued political and social tensions.
🏷️ Themes
Diplomacy, Military escalation, Nuclear proliferation, Economic sanctions
Practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states
Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of state, intergovernmental, or non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international system.
Diplomacy is the main instrument of foreign policy which represents the broader goals and strategies that guide a state's interact...
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb types release large quantities ...
Economic sanctions or embargoes are commercial and financial penalties applied by states or institutions against states, groups, or individuals. Economic sanctions are a form of coercion that attempts to get an actor to change its behavior through disruption in economic exchange. Sanctions can be in...
News | Politics Iran’s FM says deal with US ‘within reach’ if diplomacy ‘given priority’ Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s remarks in advance of Geneva talks come as a second US aircraft carrier heads towards the Middle East. Listen to this article | 3 mins By Lyndal Rowlands Published On 25 Feb 2026 25 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi has said that a deal with the United States to avert conflict is “within reach”, in advance of talks between the two countries in Geneva, Switzerland. Araghchi said that the “historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement” would depend on whether “diplomacy is given priority”, in a possible reference to US President Donald Trump’s ongoing threats to use military force against Iran. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 US re-asserts 2025 strikes ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear programme list 2 of 4 Iran’s government stresses ‘red lines’ as students protest in universities list 3 of 4 Lebanon’s army tells soldiers to act after post comes under Israeli fire list 4 of 4 Iran cannot defeat US military might, but it can still win end of list In a statement shared on social media on Tuesday, Iran’s top diplomat added that his country remained “crystal clear” that it would “under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon “, while also recognising the right of Iran’s people to the benefits of “peaceful nuclear technology”. Indirect talks scheduled for Thursday in Geneva will be the third round of discussions between Washington and Tehran mediated by Oman, which has said it hopes to see “a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal”. Delivering his State of the Union address in Washington on Tuesday evening, President Trump again struck a belligerent tone towards Tehran, saying he preferred diplomacy but accused Iran of developing missiles that could “soon reach the United States of America”. “My preference is to solve this prob...
