US Vice President J. D. Vance said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump still prefers a diplomatic solution with Iran, while emphasizing that the military option remains on the table if political efforts fail, expressing his hope that Tehran will deal seriously with the talks scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday.
Vance explained in a statement to Fox News that the main goal of the US administration is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, whether through diplomacy and other available means, or by resorting to the military option if necessary. He stressed that diplomacy remains the best option, hoping that the negotiations will lead to a result that prevents Tehran from using nuclear weapons to threaten global security.
Trump had mentioned in his annual speech to Congress that Iran is working to develop ballistic missiles capable of reaching American territory and threatening Europe and American bases abroad, pointing out that Washington has warned Tehran of any future efforts to rebuild its weapons programs, especially nuclear ones.
Trump added: “We have the most powerful army in the world, and I rebuilt it in my first term. We destroyed the Iranian nuclear program, and now they want to start over and pursue their goals.”
On the other hand, Tehran responded to American accusations related to its nuclear and missile programs, as well as accusations of killing demonstrators, as “repeating a series of big lies” and distorting the facts.
For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that his country sees the possibility of reaching a “fair and balanced” agreement with the United States during the Geneva negotiations scheduled to be held tomorrow. In an interview with India Today, Araqchi indicated that the previous round of negotiations had achieved some progress and led to mutual understanding, considering that continuing this progress may lead to an agreement or deal.
He stressed that reaching an agreement remains possible if the United States shows sufficient will, explaining that the matter depends on the intentions of the other party, adding: “We are not completely convinced that they have the real determination to do so.”
The third round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States regarding the Iranian nuclear program is scheduled to be held in Geneva on February 26. It is worth noting that the White House had warned in January that it was seriously considering the use of force against Iran, before later expressing its hope of reaching a “fair and equitable” agreement that includes Tehran’s complete abandonment of nuclear weapons, while the Iranian authorities constantly confirm that they do not intend to develop an atomic bomb.
