Message: Iran is attempting to reach an agreement with Trump on the nuclear program through economic incentives.

Representatives from the United States and Iran held a new round of talks in Geneva on Thursday (February 26th). The Financial Times reported that Iran is attempting to persuade US President Trump to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program through economic benefits， including investing in its vast oil and gas reserves， in an effort to avoid war.

The delegation led by Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi held indirect talks with US Special Envoy Witkowski and Trump's son-in-law Kushner on Thursday.

The Financial Times quoted a source as saying that Iran has taken Venezuela as a case study and internally discussed the possibility of providing natural gas and oil investment plans to the United States. After the US arrested Venezuelan President Maduro last month, Trump pushed for US companies to reach oil deals in Venezuela.

However, sources said that the proposal has not yet been officially submitted to Washington.

The report also states that Iran is also discussing the establishment of a multilateral verification mechanism, which might include representatives from the United States or other third countries in addition to the officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the United Nations.

Iranian President Peghizchiyan delivered a speech on Thursday before the start of the US-Iran negotiations, reaffirming that Iran does not seek to develop nuclear weapons. He said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has already declared that Iran will never possess nuclear weapons.

The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Shamhani, stated that if not manufacturing nuclear weapons was the core issue of this negotiation, then the two sides were expected to reach an agreement quickly.

Amman's Foreign Minister Badr said on Thursday after meeting with Witkov and Kushner that the negotiating representatives from the US and Iran have demonstrated an unprecedented openness and are willing to accept new solutions.

To intensify the pressure, the United States announced new sanctions against Iran on Wednesday (the 25th). The US Treasury Department stated that it has imposed sanctions on over 30 entities, oil tankers, and individuals to combat Iran's illegal oil sales and weapons production.

US Vice President Cheney warned Iran on Wednesday that it should take seriously the military threats from the US. Cheney said that the US has evidence suggesting that after the nuclear facilities in Iran were attacked in June last year, Iran is attempting to rebuild its nuclear program.

US Secretary of State Rubio said that Iran is attempting to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles. He warned that if Iran does not engage in negotiations regarding the missile issue, it will face "serious problems".

On the other hand, the Axios news website in the US reported on Wednesday that US officials and sources said Witkowski disclosed that the Trump administration wants Iran to agree that if the nuclear deal is reached, it will be "valid indefinitely".