Iranian Foreign Minister Says "Nuclear Deal Is Within Reach"...U.S. Fighter Jets Massing in Israel

"Historic Opportunity for an Unprecedented Agreement"
U.S. Stealth Fighters Head to Israel

Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

Iran has made a conciliatory gesture by hinting at the possibility of reaching an agreement ahead of its third round of nuclear talks with the United States. Analysts say this is because it is under significant military pressure as U.S. forces in the Middle East have begun concentrating in Israel.

On the 24th (local time), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X, a social networking service, that "an agreement with the United States is within reach," adding, "We have a historic opportunity to conclude an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual benefits." The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold their third round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 26th.

Minister Araghchi said, "We have proven that we are prepared to do whatever it takes, with courage, to defend our sovereignty," and stressed, "We will bring the same courage to the negotiating table and will seek a peaceful resolution to all differences." He added, "Iran will resume negotiations with the United States in Geneva with a firm determination to reach a fair and equitable agreement in the shortest possible time."

Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi also struck a conciliatory tone, saying that "Iran is ready to take all necessary steps to reach an agreement with the United States." His remarks are being interpreted as strongly reflecting the growing military pressure as the likelihood of a U.S. attack on Iran increases.

It is reported that the deployment of U.S. forces in the Middle East is nearly complete. According to the Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel, more than 10 F-22 stealth fighter jets, the latest U.S. combat aircraft, arrived in Israel the previous day and were deployed to an air base in southern Israel. The Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the second U.S. aircraft carrier dispatched to the Middle East, has also entered the Mediterranean and docked at the island of Crete in southern Greece, and is expected to call at the port of Haifa in northern Israel by this weekend.

Depending on the outcome of the third round of nuclear talks to be held on the 26th, the U.S. airstrike operation against Iran is expected to move into full swing. The United States and Iran are reportedly still far apart on the issue of uranium enrichment. According to Al Jazeera, the United States is demanding that Iran completely halt uranium enrichment, while Iran insists it will dilute its 60% enriched uranium down to 20% under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), leaving both sides struggling to find common ground.