The region could be days, maybe even hours, from a major conflagration — the biggest since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The third round of critical US-Iran indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday has been described as a last-ditch chance to reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and other issues. But despite all the warning signs that war may be imminent, there are indications that a diplomatic breakthrough is still possible.

If the negotiations fail, Trump repeatedly has threatened to attack Iran.

The indirect negotiations are seen as a last-ditch effort to prevent a conflict, but the chances of a nuclear agreement are unclear.