Iran will resume nuclear negotiations with Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. The deputy foreign ministers from the four nations are expected to participate, as tensions rise over the potential reimposition of international sanctions.
This diplomatic meeting follows a call last Thursday between the E3 foreign ministers—representing the UK, France, and Germany—and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. It marked their first engagement since last month’s joint Israel-U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, escalating concerns around Iran’s atomic program.
The three European powers, along with China and Russia, remain committed to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the United States exited in 2018. The agreement lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limits on its nuclear activities. However, the E3 have warned that unless talks resume or yield tangible results, they will trigger the U.N. "snapback mechanism" to restore sanctions by the end of August.
Iran has criticized the threat, with Araqchi stating the E3 lacks any "moral and legal ground" to impose pressure tactics like the snapback. He urged the European Union and its member states to abandon outdated approaches and engage constructively.
The snapback mechanism would reinstate U.N. sanctions prior to the expiration of the Security Council resolution enshrining the 2015 accord on October 18.
Before recent hostilities, Iran and the U.S. had engaged in five rounds of indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman. However, talks stalled over critical issues like uranium enrichment. Western powers demand Iran scale back enrichment levels to prevent potential weaponization, while Tehran insists its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful, civilian purposes.
The outcome of Friday’s talks could prove pivotal for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.