logo
Iran confirms fresh nuclear talks with European powers

Iran confirms fresh nuclear talks with European powers

RTÉ News​4 days ago
Iran confirmed fresh talks with European powers to be held on Friday in Istanbul, the country's state media reported, the first since the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago.
Iranian diplomats will meet counterparts from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, after the trio warned that sanctions could be reimposed on Tehran if it does return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme.
Western nations and Israel have long accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.
"In response to the request of European countries, Iran has agreed to hold a new round of talks," said foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai, as quoted by state TV.
The subject of the talks will be Iran's nuclear programme, it added.
A German diplomatic source had told AFP yesterday the E3 were in contact with Tehran and said "Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon".
"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 to the Iranian nuclear programme," the source said.
Israel launched on 13 June a wave of surprise strikes on its regional nemesis, targeting key military and nuclear facilities.
The United States launched its own set of strikes against Iran's nuclear programme on 22 June, hitting the uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, in Qom province south of Tehran, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz.
Kremlin meeting
Iran and the United States had held several rounds of nuclear negotiations through Omani mediators before Israel launched its 12-day war against Iran.
However, US President Donald Trump's decision to join Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities effectively ended the talks.
The E3 countries last met with Iranian representatives in Geneva on 21 June - just one day before the US strikes.
Also yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a surprise meeting in the Kremlin with Ali Larijani, top adviser to Iran's supreme leader on nuclear issues.
Mr Larijani "conveyed assessments of the escalating situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear programme", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the unannounced meeting.
Mr Putin had expressed Russia's "well-known positions on how to stabilise the situation in the region and on the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear programme", he added.
Moscow has a cordial relationship with Iran's clerical leadership and provides crucial backing for Tehran but did not swing forcefully behind its partner even after the United States joined Israel's bombing campaign.
Snapback mechanism
Iran and world powers struck a deal in 2015 called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which placed significant restrictions on Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
But the hard-won deal began to unravel in 2018, during Mr Trump's first presidency, when the United States walked away from it and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
European countries have in recent days threatened to trigger the deal's "snapback" mechanism, which allows the reimposition of sanctions in the event of non-compliance by Iran.
After a call with his European counterparts on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Western allies had "absolutely no moral (or) legal grounds" for reactivating the snapback sanctions.
He elaborated in a post to social media yesterday.
"Through their actions and statements, including providing political and material support to the recent unprovoked and illegal military aggression of the Israeli regime and the US... the E3 have relinquished their role as 'Participants' in the JCPOA," said Araghchi.
That made any attempt to reinstate the terminated UN Security Council resolutions "null and void", he added.
"Iran has shown that it is capable of defeating any delusional 'dirty work' but has always been prepared to reciprocate meaningful diplomacy in good faith," Araghchi wrote.
However, the German source said that "if no solution is reached over the summer, snapback remains an option for the E3".
Ali Velayati, an adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said last week there would be no new nuclear talks with the United States if they were conditioned on Tehran abandoning its uranium enrichment activities.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Zelenskyy announces new anti-corruption Bill after public outcry and EU criticism
Zelenskyy announces new anti-corruption Bill after public outcry and EU criticism

Irish Examiner

timean hour ago

  • Irish Examiner

Zelenskyy announces new anti-corruption Bill after public outcry and EU criticism

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he is sending a new anti-corruption Bill to Ukraine's Parliament on Thursday, in a further attempt to defuse tensions after he approved changes to corruption laws that brought a public outcry and sharp criticism from the European Union. Opponents of the contentious law passed by politicians and approved by Mr Zelenskyy earlier this week said that it stripped Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence by granting the government more oversight of their work. Mr Zelenskyy said it was needed to speed up investigations, ensure more convictions and remove 'Russian influence' from the fight against corruption, though he did not provide examples of Russian meddling. The most important thing is real tools, no Russian connections, and the independence of the (watchdogs) In an abrupt change of course on Thursday, Mr Zelenskyy unexpectedly said that he had drawn up a new draft Bill on corruption that 'guarantees the real strengthening of the law and order system in Ukraine'. 'The most important thing is real tools, no Russian connections, and the independence of the (watchdogs),' he said in a Telegram post. The declaration appeared to bow to recent pressure that threatened to undermine public trust in Ukraine's leaders after more than three years of fighting Russia's full-scale invasion. The protests have not called for Mr Zelenskyy ousting, but they are the first major anti-government demonstrations since the war began. 'It is important that we maintain unity,' Mr Zelenskyy said in his post. The announcement also left some questions unanswered. Volodymyr Zelensky attending the parliament session in Kyiv on Thursday (Vadym Sarakhan/AP) Mr Zelenskyy had said on Wednesday that he met the heads of Ukraine's key anti-corruption and security agencies and gave them two weeks to make recommendations on how the graft law could be improved before he presented another Bill to Parliament. It is unclear what becomes of that effort to seek their input. Despite that assurance of new legislation, further street protests were scheduled for Thursday evening. The new pronouncement also left unclear whether Mr Zelenskyy intended to revoke the law that he approved earlier in the week after Parliament had passed it. He did not publicise details about the proposed new law. The unrest has come at a difficult time in the all-out war, which began on February 24 2022. Russia's bigger army is accelerating its efforts to pierce Ukraine's frontline defences and is escalating its bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Ukraine is also facing a question mark over whether the United States will provide more military aid and whether European commitments can take up the slack, with no end in sight to the war. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for a third round of talks in as many months on Wednesday. But once again, the talks were brief and delivered no major breakthrough. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in the war. It is also an effort that enjoys broad public support. EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern on Wednesday over the new law, calling it 'a serious step back'. The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticizsed parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners. People look at a ruined city market following Russia's drone attack in Odesa on Thursday (Michael Shtekel/AP) Meanwhile, two women aged 48 and 59 were killed and 14 other people were injured when Russian forces dropped four powerful glide bombs on Kostiantynivka, an industrial city in eastern Ukraine, and shelled it with artillery, Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin said. Russian planes also dropped two glide bombs on the centre of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, on Thursday morning, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. At least 42 people were wounded, including two babies, a 10-year-old girl and two 17 year olds, authorities said. The southern city of Odesa, and Cherkasy in central Ukraine, were also hit overnight, authorities said. The drone and missile strikes on the cities wounded 11 people, including a nine-year-old, and damaged historic landmarks and residential buildings, officials said. Ukraine has sought to step up its own long-range drone attacks on Russia, using domestic technology and manufacturing. An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi killed two women and wounded 11 other people, local authorities said Thursday. An oil depot was hit, officials said, without offering details.

Iran ‘ready for nuclear talks with US but only if Washington rebuilds trust'
Iran ‘ready for nuclear talks with US but only if Washington rebuilds trust'

Irish Examiner

time2 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Iran ‘ready for nuclear talks with US but only if Washington rebuilds trust'

Iran is ready to engage in talks on its nuclear programme with the United States, but only if Washington takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust, deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi has said. Iran is set to meet on Friday in Istanbul with the UK, France and Germany, known as the E3 nations, and the European Union's deputy foreign policy commissioner. They will be the first talks since Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June, which involved US B-52 bombers striking nuclear-related facilities in Iran. Mr Gharibabadi said in a social media post on Thursday that to enter negotiations, Iran sought 'several key principles' to be upheld. He said these included 'rebuilding Iran's trust — as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States — avoiding the use of talks as a platform for hidden agendas such as military action, though Iran remains fully prepared for any scenario; respecting and recognising Iran's rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, including enrichment in line with its legitimate needs; and the lifting of sanctions'. A woman walks past a building damaged in an Israeli airstrike at a residential compound in Tehran (AP Photo) Friday's talks will be held at the deputy ministerial level, with Iran sending deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi. A similar meeting was held in Istanbul in May. European leaders have threatened to trigger a 'snapback' mechanism included in a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which would reimpose sanctions that were lifted in exchange for Iran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear programme. The UK, France and Germany were signatories to the 2015 deal. The US withdrew in 2018 during the first term of President Donald Trump, who insisted the agreement was not tough enough. Iranian officials have warned that a move to reimpose sanctions would have consequences. Mr Gharibabadi said earlier this week that it could force Tehran to withdraw from key non-proliferation agreements. In a letter to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the E3 of hypocrisy, saying they failed to uphold their obligations under the 2015 deal while supporting Israel's recent strikes on Iran. In the recent conflict, US B-52 bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities in support of Israel's air campaign. Iran responded with missile attacks, including a strike on a US base in Qatar, which President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted was not directed at the Qatari state. In an interview with Al Jazeera that aired on Wednesday, Mr Pezeshkian said Iran is prepared for another war and accused Israel of attempting to assassinate him during a June 15 meeting of Iran's national security council in Tehran. Mr Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran's nuclear programme will continue within the framework of international law and insisted the country has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons. 'Our nuclear capabilities are in the minds of our scientists,' he said, emphasising Iran's position that future negotiations must be rooted in mutual respect, not threats. According to the official judicial news agency Mizan, at least 13 Iranian nuclear scientists were killed during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. Our nuclear industry is deeply rooted. What has roots cannot be harmed by attack or pressure — it will grow back and thrive again A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said on Thursday the country's nuclear industry would recover from the recent attacks by Israel and the US. 'Our nuclear industry is deeply rooted. What has roots cannot be harmed by attack or pressure — it will grow back and thrive again,' state TV quoted Behrouz Kamalvandi as saying. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported in May that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% had grown to over 400 kilogrammes (882 pounds). That material, just below weapons-grade level, remains a central concern for the West. Despite the growing stockpile, Iran has said it remains open to diplomacy, though it recently suspended co-operation with the IAEA following legislation signed by Mr Pezeshkian. While European officials say they want to avoid further conflict and are open to a negotiated solution, they have warned that time is running out.

EU pushing to cap future tariffs on pharma in US deal
EU pushing to cap future tariffs on pharma in US deal

Irish Times

time2 hours ago

  • Irish Times

EU pushing to cap future tariffs on pharma in US deal

The European Union is pushing for any future tariffs on pharmaceutical products sold to the United States to be capped at a blanket 15 per cent rate, in ongoing trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump's administration. Pharmaceutical products have emerged as one potential sticking point in intense EU-US negotiations to land a tariff agreement in the next eight days. The latest outline of a possible deal – the shape of which has changed several times over recent weeks – would see the EU agree to accept tariffs of 15 per cent being charged on most goods sold to the US. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm negotiating for the 27-state bloc, is pushing to have tariffs on pharmaceutical products and cars capped at that level. READ MORE Negotiators for the Trump administration want possible trade levies on pharmaceuticals to be dealt with separately, leaving the door open to the sector facing significantly higher import duties. The fate of pharmaceuticals in any tariff deal has been a key concern of the Government. The industry accounts for the vast majority of the Republic's huge flow of trade across the Atlantic, due to the large number of US pharma giants with manufacturing plants in Ireland. [ Pharma companies unprepared for production shift amid US tariffs Opens in new window ] To date the sector has not been hit with any tariffs, which are effectively taxes on imports. Though Mr Trump has repeatedly said hefty levies are coming, as a way to force drugmakers to relocate manufacturing capacity and jobs to the US. There is some optimism inside the commission that a EU-US deal could be done in the coming days. However, sources in both Dublin and Brussels stressed the unpredictable nature of the talks, which could equally run right up to an August 1st deadline set by Mr Trump, or beyond. Most European businesses have faced US tariffs of 10 per cent since early April, with Mr Trump levelling higher rates of 25 per cent on imports of cars, and a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium. How will the updated National Development Plan shape Ireland in years to come? Listen | 35:59 The outline of a potential deal being hammered out could see tariffs on EU-made cars brought down to 15 per cent, in what would be a bit of a reprieve for Germany's large automobile industry. It is understood existing tariffs on steel may be dealt with separately, possibly through some workaround such as a quota system, to lessen the impact of the US import duties. Several sources briefed on the ongoing negotiations said a 15 per cent tariff on most EU products sold to the US appeared largely settled between the two sides. [ EU backs potential counter-tariffs on €93bn of US goods if no deal Opens in new window ] Much of the recent focus of talks between officials has been on specific sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, cars, steel, and semiconductors. Any negotiated agreement would be subject to a final sign off by Mr Trump. Some European industries would be exempt from US tariffs, with aircraft, spirits and some medical devices believed to be in the frame to be spared, according to several sources. Both sides were close to a deal earlier this month, before Mr Trump instead threatened to triple existing tariffs charged on EU trade to 30 per cent from August 1st. European governments have been keen to agree some type of bare bones trade agreement with the US, to avoid the prospect of those higher tariffs kicking in.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store