A high-ranking Iranian official has indicated that a rapid diplomatic breakthrough with the United States remains achievable if Washington shifts its primary focus away from Tehran’s nuclear weapons development. Ali Shamkhani, senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and secretary of Iran’s Defense Council, articulated this position through social media platform X amid ongoing nuclear negotiations in Geneva.
Shamkhani emphasized that Iran’s commitment to non-proliferation aligns with both religious decrees issued by the country’s leadership and its established defense doctrine. “If the main issue of the negotiations is not making nuclear weapons by Iran, this is in compliance with a religious decree issued by Iran’s leader and the country’s defense doctrine, and an immediate agreement is within reach,” he stated.
The official further reinforced Iran’s negotiating position by confirming that Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who leads Tehran’s delegation, possesses full authority to finalize any potential agreement. This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and increased US military presence in West Asia.
The current talks represent the third round of indirect negotiations between the two nations, hosted at Oman’s Embassy in Geneva. Previous sessions were conducted earlier this month in both Muscat and Geneva, demonstrating the ongoing diplomatic efforts to address one of the most persistent geopolitical challenges.