FILE- In this handout photo obtained from Iran’s foreign ministry delegation, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C) arrives for a meeting in Muscat. AFP
Hamid Ghanbari, deputy director for economic diplomacy at Iran’s foreign ministry, said shared interests in sectors such as oil, gas, mining, and aviation have been raised in discussions with the US, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.
Speaking at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Ghanbari said any agreement must generate tangible economic benefits for Washington to ensure its durability, a lesson Tehran drew from the 2015 nuclear deal.
Referring to that accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, he said the United States did not sufficiently benefit economically at the time, contributing to the deal’s collapse.
Ghanbari said potential areas of cooperation should avoid triggering domestic political sensitivities. He pointed to energy development, quick-return mining projects, urban development, and aircraft purchases as possible areas of engagement.
“The country must be prepared for all possibilities,” he said, adding that negotiations are being pursued seriously.
Sanctions relief central to talks
Recent Iranian statements indicate Tehran is trying to steer the negotiations toward an economically driven framework that pairs sanctions relief with calibrated nuclear concessions.
In an interview with the BBC, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said Iran is willing to compromise on its stockpile of highly enriched uranium if US sanctions are lifted.
He said Tehran could dilute its enriched uranium as part of a broader agreement, provided Washington removes the restrictions that have strained Iran’s economy.
Ahead of the Geneva talks, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the US position had become “more realistic” following earlier discussions in Muscat.
“Time is of the essence for us. Our people are under the pressure of oppressive sanctions, and reason and logic demand that we lift these sanctions as soon as possible,” Baqaei said.
He added that Iran’s “inalienable rights” under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)—including the peaceful use of nuclear energy—had been recognized.
Indirect talks to continue
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after arriving in Geneva that Tehran has “real ideas” to reach what he called a “fair and equitable deal”, stressing that “surrender under threat is not on the table”.
Iran and the United States resumed negotiations in Muscat on 6 February after months of deadlock. Iranian officials say the Geneva round, like the Oman talks, will remain indirect.
Tehran has repeatedly said the negotiations are limited to the nuclear file and has ruled out any discussion of its missile programme, which it describes as purely defensive, therefore non-negotiable.
Washington signals cautious optimism
After the first round of talks, US President Donald Trump stated that negotiations with Iran were “going very well” and stressed the importance of continuing dialogue following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump has nonetheless maintained pressure on Tehran, warning in previous remarks that “bad things” would happen if no agreement is reached while reinforcing the US military presence in the Gulf.
In an interview with Fox Business, he said a “good deal” would mean “no nuclear weapons, no missiles.”
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