Iran and the “E3” European countries – France, Germany, and Britain – have agreed to resume nuclear negotiations this Friday in Istanbul, according to Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV.
Resumption Amidst Tensions and Recent Conflict
The agreement to restart talks comes after a period of heightened tensions, including a 12-day war triggered by Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13, which was followed by U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. These events had effectively halted previous talks between Tehran and the US, which were being held through Omani mediators. The Israeli attack occurred just two days before a planned sixth round of negotiations in Muscat, Oman.
Iran has accused the US of complicity in the Israeli attack, which resulted in the deaths of top Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists, and civilians. The US claimed its strikes “obliterated” three major Iranian nuclear sites. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on June 24.
Urgency and “Snapback” Threat
Earlier this week, top diplomats from the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union emphasized the urgency of returning to diplomacy for a nuclear deal. They warned Iran that failure to do so could lead to them triggering the UN “snapback” mechanism, which would reimpose international sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, following talks with the E3 and EU last Thursday, reiterated Iran’s stance that the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord (JCPOA). He stressed that any new round of talks is only possible “when the other side is ready for a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.”
Araghchi also criticized the “snapback” threat, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the ‘snap-back’ for which they lack absolutely no moral and legal ground.”
While the US and European nations maintain that Iran must never acquire a nuclear bomb, Tehran consistently asserts that its nuclear program is intended solely for the peaceful use of nuclear power.
