US and Iran to hold third round of nuclear talks as American fleet gathers

Meanwhile, Iran has maintained it wants to continue to enrich uranium even as its programme sits in ruins after Mr Trump ordered an attack in June on three of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites

Iran has maintained it wants to continue to enrich uranium (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Iran and the USwere preparing to meet in Geneva for nuclear negotiations, talks viewed as a last chance for diplomacy as America has gathered a fleet of aircraft and warships to the Middle East to pressure Tehran into a deal.

US president Donald Trump wants a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests last month.