Iran and the U.S. traded threats and warnings even as negotiators sat down to discuss a deal to avert a war, but Tehran says "we now have a clearer path ahead."

The second round of talks in Geneva about Iran's nuclear program takes place as the United States ramps up its military presence in the Middle East and Iran holds large-scale maritime exercises.

Iran is ready to consider compromises to reach a nuclear deal with the United States if Washington is willing to discuss lifting sanctions, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC in an interview published on Sunday.

Texas Sen. Ted CRuz told FOX News on Thursday night that "it is entirely possible that in the next six months we’ll see regimes fall in Iran, in Venezuela, and in Cuba." "And we could also see governments replace them that want to be friends with the United States of America,

The U.S. has said the White House wants to ink a deal with Iran but has alluded to military action if no agreement is signed.