Iran to Resume Nuclear Talks with Europe Amid Sanctions Threat
Iran Agrees to New Nuclear Talks with Europe Amid Threat of Sanctions
TEHRAN – Iranian diplomats will resume negotiations with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany — collectively known as the E3 — following fresh warnings from the trio that sanctions may be reimposed if Tehran does not return to the nuclear negotiating table.
“In response to the request of European countries, Iran has agreed to hold a new round of talks,” said Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai, according to state television on Monday. The upcoming discussions will focus on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Western powers, along with Israel, have long accused Iran of covertly working to develop nuclear weapons — a claim Iran has repeatedly denied. A German diplomatic source told AFP that the E3 remains committed to preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear arsenal. “That is why Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are continuing to work intensively in the E3 format to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution,” the source said.
Recent Military Escalation
Tensions have surged in the region following a series of military strikes. On June 13, Israel launched surprise attacks targeting Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. The United States followed on June 22 with coordinated airstrikes on several Iranian nuclear facilities, including the uranium enrichment plant in Fordo, and sites in Isfahan and Natanz.
Before the military escalation, Iran and the United States had engaged in indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman. However, U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to support Israeli strikes led to the collapse of those diplomatic efforts. The E3 last met with Iranian officials in Geneva on June 21, just one day before the U.S. assault.
Russia’s Diplomatic Engagement
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held an unannounced meeting with Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader on nuclear affairs. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the talks centered on the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the future of Iran’s nuclear programme. Despite its alliance with Tehran, Moscow has maintained a neutral stance since the joint Israeli-U.S. offensive.
JCPOA and the Snapback Threat
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) placed limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the deal began to unravel in 2018 when the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the accord and reimposed sanctions.
Now, European countries are warning they may trigger the JCPOA’s “snapback” mechanism — a clause allowing sanctions to be reinstated if Iran violates the agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded sharply after a call with E3 counterparts on Friday. “The Western allies have absolutely no moral or legal grounds to reactivate snapback sanctions,” he said. In a follow-up post on social media, Araghchi accused the E3 of compromising their neutrality by supporting “unprovoked and illegal military aggression” from Israel and the United States.
Ali Velayati, another senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, added that Iran will not agree to any new nuclear deal that demands a halt to its uranium enrichment programme.
Despite the rising tensions, Iranian officials have signaled that they remain open to diplomacy. “Iran has shown it is capable of defeating any delusional ‘dirty work’ but has always been prepared to reciprocate meaningful diplomacy in good faith,” Araghchi stated.
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