Iran sees a chance of a good outcome from a third round of talks with the United States, its President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday, as a delegation left for Geneva to negotiate over Tehran's nuclear program.
A senior US official said on Monday that US envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are scheduled to meet with the Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in Geneva on Thursday.
The two countries resumed negotiations over the long-disputed nuclear program earlier this month as the US builds up its military capability in the Middle East ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic. Iran has threatened to strike US bases in the region if it is attacked.
On February 19, Trump said he was giving Tehran about 10 to 15 days to reach a deal.
"In relation to the talks, we see a good outlook, tomorrow in the meeting that Dr. Araqchi will hold in Geneva... we have tried, with the guidance of the Supreme Leader, to manage this process to get out of the no war, no peace situation," Pezeshkian said in comments carried by state media.
Araqchi said on Tuesday that a deal with the US was "within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority."
The US and Israel believe Iran aspires to build a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel's existence. Iran says its nuclear program is purely peaceful, even though it has enriched uranium far beyond the purity needed for power generation, and close to what is required for a bomb.
German FM: Iran must stop supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis
Iran must commit during their negotiations with the United States to stop support for armed proxy groups Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, Germany's foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference with his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prevot, he added Germany has "a special responsibility for the security of the State of Israel."
Germany is urging Iran to stop seeking nuclear weapons, to restrict its ballistic missile program, and to cease destabilizing the wider region, a foreign office spokesperson said on Wednesday, ahead of fresh nuclear talks in Geneva.
"We expect Iran to seize the opportunity to engage constructively in the (Geneva) talks," the spokesperson said.
The talks are set to take place on Thursday in Geneva, a senior US official said on Monday, with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner scheduled to meet with the Iranian delegation.