Geneva talks set as U.S. pushes Iran for indefinite nuclear deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi headed to Geneva on Wednesday to lead Iran's delegation in the third round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States, scheduled for Thursday.

In a Tuesday post on social media platform X, Araghchi said Iran is approaching the talks with a determination to achieve a "fair and equitable" deal as quickly as possible.

On Wednesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance reiterated the U.S. stance on the matter, saying, "The principle is very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon." 

Iran's possession of ballistic missiles remains a concern for the U.S. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran poses a "grave threat" to the U.S. and that he would not characterize Thursday's talks as anything other than the next opportunity to talk. 

White House Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, told a private gathering on Tuesday that the Trump administration is demanding that Iran agree that any future nuclear deal remain in effect indefinitely, according to media reports.

One day ahead of the third round of indirect talks between the two countries, the U.S. issued a new wave of sanctions against more than 30 entities, individuals, and vessels.

(With input from Xinhua)