Iran's foreign minister declared Tuesday that a deal to avoid a military clash with the United States was within reach, two days before talks between the foes were due to resume in Geneva, France 24.
Abbas Araghchi's appeal came as Iran issued a muted warning to student protesters maintaining pressure on the government, against the backdrop of mounting US threats of action to halt Tehran's nuclear programme.
"We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests," Araghchi said in a social media post.
The minister added that a deal was "within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority".
Tehran and Washington are due to hold a third round of negotiations on Thursday in Geneva, the latest since talks resumed earlier this month.
The talks will be held following a heavy US military deployment in the region in recent weeks and threats by President Donald Trump of a strike on Iran if no deal is reached.
Iran has repeatedly said it would respond firmly to any attack and on Monday the foreign ministry warned that any strike, even limited, "would be regarded as an act of aggression".
In his post on Tuesday, Araghchi vowed Iran will "under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon", but insisted on the country's right to "harness dividends of peaceful nuclear technology".
"We have proven that we will stop at nothing to guard our sovereignty with courage," he added.
Iran and the US held five rounds of nuclear talks last year but those negotiations were brought to an end with Israel's unprecedented attack on Iran which triggered a 12-day war.
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