Iran May Resume Nuclear Talks with Europe

Iran may resume nuclear negotiations with Britain, France, and Germany next week, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, as European powers threaten to reimpose UN sanctions if talks fail to restart.

A source quoted by Tasnim confirmed that while the principle of talks had been agreed, consultations on the time and location are ongoing.

This potential resumption comes after months of stalled negotiations following Israel and the U.S.’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. European officials have warned that without progress, they will invoke the “snapback mechanism” to restore UN sanctions on Tehran by the end of August.

Background of the Dispute

The talks involve the so-called E3 — Britain, France, and Germany — who, along with China and Russia, remain parties to the 2015 nuclear deal from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018. That deal lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program.

Tehran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi criticized Europe’s threats, saying: “If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure.”

The snapback mechanism would restore UN sanctions before the current Security Council resolution expires on October 18.

Previous Negotiations and Stumbling Blocks

Prior to recent escalations, Iran and the U.S. held five rounds of talks mediated by Oman. Key obstacles included Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, which Western powers demand be reduced to zero to prevent possible weaponization. Tehran insists its nuclear program is strictly civilian.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief and E3 foreign ministers recently held their first talks with Araqchi since Israel’s strikes on Iranian facilities.