Iran and the United States will begin crucial talks on Saturday to reach a new nuclear deal in an effort to ease tensions and avert another conflict in the Middle East that could further engulf the wider region.

Iran said on Friday it was giving high-level nuclear talks with the United States on Saturday "a genuine chance", after President Donald Trump threatened bombing if discussions failed.

The United States and Iran will hold their first serious talks in a decade this weekend. Both sides say they are willing to make a deal, but it is unclear whether their representatives will even sit in the same room.