Iran has proposed expanding discussions with the United States to include cooperation in the energy, mining and aviation sectors as part of a potential new nuclear agreement between the two countries.
A senior Iranian diplomat said Tehran is seeking a deal that would be economically beneficial for both sides. The remarks come ahead of a second round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States scheduled to take place in Geneva next week, according to the Swiss Foreign Ministry.
Hamid Ghanbari, deputy head of economic diplomacy at Iran’s Foreign Ministry, told the Fars news agency that for any agreement to be sustainable, the United States must also gain tangible economic benefits, particularly in sectors capable of generating rapid and significant returns.
He said areas such as joint development of oil and gas fields, investment in mining projects, and the sale and purchase of aircraft could be included in the negotiations. Ghanbari also argued that the 2015 nuclear deal failed to adequately secure U.S. economic interests, contributing to its eventual collapse.
Earlier this month, Tehran and Washington resumed discussions aimed at resolving long-standing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and reducing the risk of military escalation. U.S. officials told Reuters that if talks fail, Washington is preparing for sustained military options and has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the region.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a recent press conference that President Donald Trump prefers a diplomatic resolution through negotiations, though he acknowledged that such efforts may not ultimately succeed. Rubio added that while previous attempts at reaching a lasting agreement with Iran have faltered, the United States is willing to try again.
Oman is once again playing a key mediating role in the current round of talks. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has traveled to Geneva for indirect meetings. While Iran has signaled readiness to offer limited concessions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, it has made clear that it will not accept zero uranium enrichment under any circumstances.
