Iran will meet next week with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to hold discussions regarding its nuclear program, the parties announced on Friday.
The European powers have warned Tehran that it must engage in talks promptly to avoid the reinstatement of sanctions.
The Islamic Republic suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in July following its 12-day conflict with Israel, citing the UN nuclear watchdog’s failure to condemn Israeli and U.S. attacks on its nuclear facilities.
The European trio – parties to the historic 2015 nuclear agreement – has threatened to trigger the “snapback mechanism” by the end of August.
This step would reimpose major UN sanctions, which were lifted under the 2015 agreement, if Iran does not agree to limit uranium enrichment and resume cooperation with IAEA inspectors.
“An agreement was reached that Iran’s talks with the three European countries and the European Union will continue next Tuesday at the level of deputy foreign ministers,” said Iran’s Foreign Ministry following a phone call between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior European diplomats.
France confirmed the talks and warned that time is very limited for Iran.
“We just had an important phone call with our Iranian counterpart regarding the nuclear program and the sanctions on Iran that we are preparing to reimpose,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X, adding that his British and German counterparts, as well as the EU High Representative, were also part of the conversation.
“Time is running out. A new meeting will take place next week on this issue,” he added.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on X that his country remains “committed to diplomacy, but time is very short.”
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas echoed this, stating: “With the snapback mechanism deadline approaching, Iran’s willingness to engage with the U.S. is crucial. Iran must also fully cooperate with the IAEA.”
The location of the talks has not yet been announced.
Iran and the European trio – known as the E3 – held discussions at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul at the end of July, which Tehran described as “open.”
The 2015 nuclear agreement aimed to prevent Iran from developing an atomic bomb – an ambition Tehran has consistently denied.
The agreement was severely undermined in 2018 when U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the deal during his first term and imposed devastating sanctions on the Iranian economy.
Since then, Iran has criticized the European parties, accusing them of failing to fulfill their obligations under the agreement.
