BERLIN:
European powers are preparing to hold fresh negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme in the coming days, marking the first such engagement since the United States carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago, a German diplomatic source revealed on Sunday.
Britain, France, and Germany – collectively known as the E3 – are in contact with Tehran to set a date for the upcoming discussions, the source told AFP. “Consultations are under way regarding the exact timing and location of the talks,” the official added.
The three countries had recently warned Iran that international sanctions could be reimposed if it failed to return to the negotiating table. Iran’s Tasnim news agency also confirmed that Tehran had agreed in principle to resume talks with the European trio, citing an unnamed Iranian official.
A German diplomat emphasised that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a core priority for Europe. “Germany, France, and the United Kingdom continue to work intensively through the E3 format to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear programme,” the official said.
Western governments have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities, a claim repeatedly denied by Tehran, which insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.
In a parallel development on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held an unexpected meeting in Moscow with Ali Larijani, a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader on nuclear affairs. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Larijani shared Iran’s assessment of the worsening situation in the Middle East and developments related to its nuclear programme.
Peskov added that Putin reiterated Russia’s longstanding stance on stabilising regional tensions and pursuing a political resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue. While Russia maintains a close relationship with Iran and has offered critical support to Tehran in various arenas, Moscow did not openly back Iran following the US and Israeli strikes last month.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement between Iran and world powers had imposed strict limitations on Tehran’s nuclear activities in return for relief from international sanctions. However, the deal began to unravel in 2018 after then-US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the agreement and reinstated sanctions on Iran.
Recently, European signatories have threatened to invoke the JCPOA’s “snapback” mechanism, which would automatically reinstate sanctions in response to Iranian non-compliance. However, following a call with European foreign ministers on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi argued that the Western powers had no legal grounds to reactivate sanctions at this stage.
