Iran-Europe Nuclear Talks Loom as Sanctions Deadline Nears

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5 days ago

Iranian officials will meet with diplomats from Germany, Britain, and France in Istanbul on Friday to resume stalled nuclear talks, amid mounting threats from the three European powers to trigger 'snapback' sanctions outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal.
The meeting marks the first since Israel's mid-June attack on Iran that sparked a 12-day war which targeted key nuclear and military sites. The attack resulted in the deaths of top commanders, nuclear scientists, and hundreds of civilians, disrupting US-Iran nuclear negotiations that began in April.
The European powers, known as the E3, have threatened to activate the 'snapback mechanism,' which would reinstate UN sanctions on Iran by the end of August under the nearly defunct 2015 nuclear deal. The option to trigger the snapback expires in October, and Tehran has warned of serious consequences if the E3 proceeds.
'Inaction by the E3 is not an option,' a European diplomat stated, emphasizing that Tehran would be reminded during the meeting that the snapback window closes this autumn. Europeans are preparing to trigger the mechanism 'in the absence of a negotiated solution' and urge Iran to make 'clear gestures' regarding uranium enrichment and cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Iran's Stance
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi will attend the talks alongside senior diplomat Majid Takht-Ravanchi. Gharibabadi warned that triggering sanctions 'is completely illegal,' accusing European powers of failing to uphold their commitments to the deal after the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018 during President Trump's administration.
'We have warned them of the risks, but we are still seeking common ground to manage the situation,' Gharibabadi said. Iranian diplomats have previously indicated that Tehran might withdraw from the global nuclear non-proliferation treaty if UN sanctions are reimposed. Restoring sanctions would deepen Iran's international isolation and further strain its economy. Regional Tensions
However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has urged European powers to activate the snapback mechanism. Israel's 13 June attack on Iran occurred just two days before Tehran and Washington were set to meet for a sixth round of nuclear negotiations. On 22 June, the US struck Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz.
Before the conflict, Washington and Tehran disagreed over uranium enrichment. Iran views this as a 'non-negotiable' right, while the US considers it a 'red line.' The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran is enriching uranium to 60% purity, significantly above the 3.67% cap under the 2015 deal and nearing weapons-grade levels. Future Cooperation
Tehran has expressed openness to discussing the rate and level of enrichment but insists on its right to enrich uranium. A year after the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran began rolling back its commitments, which had previously restricted its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Israel and Western powers accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran consistently denies, maintaining that it will not abandon its nuclear program, which Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi describes as a source of 'national pride.'
'Especially after the recent war, it is crucial for them to understand that the Islamic Republic of Iran's position remains unshakable,' Araghchi stated. 'Our uranium enrichment will continue. We will not relinquish this right of the Iranian people.'
Since the 12-day war, Iran has suspended cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of bias and failing to condemn the attacks. Inspectors have left the country, but a technical team is expected to return soon after Iran indicated that future cooperation would take a 'new form.' Israel has warned it may resume strikes if Iran rebuilds facilities or moves toward weapons capability, though Iran has vowed a 'harsh response' to any future attacks.
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