Jumana Bersetchi

official has told Bloomberg that Tehran's diplomats are due to return to Geneva in two weeks with a new proposal.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arrakshi says the path to a deal has started.

the Iranian foreign minister speaking in Geneva.

A deal could mean the U.S.

lifting tough sanctions on Iran's oil industry and wider economy.

But the next steps are expected to get more difficult, with each side needing to draft a text for a deal.

U.S.

Vice President J.D.

Vance told Fox News that the force was still an option.

Vance and other U.S.

officials have talked up the prospect of strikes on Iran as the U.S.

has moved weapons and troops to the region.

Oil prices fell on the signs of progress, but Brent crude is up almost 12% this year, largely because of the U.S.-Iran tensions and the prospect of a war in the oil-rich country.

The ECB says Christine Lagarde has not made any decision about leaving her job as president early.

That follows a report from the Financial Times citing one person familiar with Lagarde's thinking, saying she wants to step down before France's presidential elections in April 2027.

The statement from the ECB says the central bank chief is totally focused on her mission.

There had been speculation that Lagarde may want to exit before the end of her eight-year term in October 2027.

Here's what Lagarde told Bloomberg TV in November.

The ECB president there is speaking to Bloomberg's leaders with Lacroix last year.

Earlier this week, we reported that European governments may choose to fast-track finding a successor for Lagarde, with having to deal with a possible far-right French president after next year's election.