France will host Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Paris this week as part of renewed efforts to revive nuclear diplomacy, urging Tehran to resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to address unresolved bilateral issues, including the status of detained French nationals.

Paris Seeks Momentum in Stalled Nuclear Diplomacy

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that Abbas Araghchi will arrive in Paris on Wednesday for talks touching on a wide array of sensitive subjects—chief among them, Iran’s nuclear program and the future of negotiations abandoned after years of escalating confrontation.

Barrot called the meeting an opportunity to press Tehran to fulfill its obligations under the now-dormant nuclear agreement.
“This will allow us to insist that Iran meet its commitments toward the IAEA and rapidly restore full cooperation,” he said ahead of the talks.

Detained French Nationals Remain a Priority

French officials also plan to bring up the situation of two French citizens who were released from Iranian detention but remain unable to leave the country. Both are currently staying at the French Embassy in Tehran. Paris has repeatedly demanded their safe return.

Tehran Signals No Urgency for Talks with Washington

The meeting comes amid Iran’s repeated insistence that it is in no rush to resume indirect nuclear talks with the United States, despite the reinstatement of UN sanctions and intensifying economic pressure.

Earlier this month, Iranian leaders said reopening negotiations is “not an urgent matter.”

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi reiterated that Tehran remains open to dialogue only if Washington adopts a “balanced and mutually respectful” approach. He described US demands—including zero enrichment, curbs on missile capabilities, and limits on support for regional allies—as “unreasonable and unjust.”

“They do not seem to be in a hurry,” Araghchi said. “Neither are we.”

Iran Claims Regional Dynamics Have Shifted

Iran’s top diplomat also argued that regional politics have turned in Iran’s favor. Referring to the Israeli prime minister, Araghchi said:

Sometimes I remind my colleagues that Mr. Netanyahu—despite committing every kind of atrocity—has inadvertently proven to the region that Israel, not Iran or any other state, is the true threat.

Talks Collapse After Israeli Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites

The upcoming Paris meeting follows the collapse of the planned sixth round of US-Iran indirect talks in June, which ended abruptly after Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The strikes triggered a 12-day conflict that left more than 1,000 people dead and caused billions of dollars in damage before both sides agreed to a cease-fire.

A Deal That Never Recovered

The original nuclear accord—signed in 2015 by the US, Iran, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, China and the EU—offered sanctions relief in return for strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.

President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018, arguing it was flawed. Since then, Iran has openly violated multiple provisions, claiming the deal was nullified by Washington’s exit and maintaining that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only.

UN sanctions on Iran were reinstated in September through the agreement’s “snapback” mechanism, adding further pressure on Tehran as diplomatic efforts struggle to regain momentum.