Latest news with #E3
American Military News
12 hours ago
- Business
- American Military News
Iran Tells Europeans To Abandon ‘Worn Out' Threats Amid Nuclear Sanctions Debate
This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has called on European powers to halt threats against Tehran, including warnings about reinstating UN sanctions. Tehran's top diplomat wrote on X on July 18 that he told his British, French, and German counterparts, as well as the EU foreign policy chief, during a joint call that Europe 'should act responsibly' and abandon 'worn-out policies of threat and pressure.' He said the EU and the European trio, the so-called E3, have 'no moral or legal ground' to trigger the 'snapback' of UN sanctions. On July 15, French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noel Barrot told fellow EU ministers that the E3 is prepared to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran unless Tehran offers a 'firm, tangible and verifiable commitment.' The Europeans reiterated the same stance during the call with Araqchi, according to a French diplomatic source cited by Reuters, who said Iran was pushed to reach a 'verifiable and lasting' deal with the United States. Under the 2015 nuclear agreement — the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — long‑standing UN restrictions on arms sales, banking, and nuclear‑related technology were lifted a decade ago. European governments can still invoke the deal's 'snapback' mechanism before an October 15 deadline, a step that would restore those sanctions and give them a narrow but significant source of leverage in current negotiations. Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the wake of the US and Israeli bombing of its nuclear sites last month. The European are pressing for UN nuclear inspectors to resume work in Iran, aiming in part to prevent Tehran from reorganizing its nuclear program after the damage caused by the strikes. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, China and Russia — longtime supporters of Iran in such negotiations — cannot veto a snapback of sanctions. Although the formal window to trigger the mechanism closes in October, European governments could opt to postpone the move beyond that deadline to keep the door open for further talks. Iranian and US negotiators were scheduled to meet in Oslo last week but the meeting was postponed, with apparently no new date agreed upon. 'Any new round of talks is only possible when the other side is ready for a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal,' Araqchi wrote on X. Speaking at a press briefing this week, US President Donald Trump said that while Iran is eager to engage in talks, he is in 'no rush' to do so, noting that 'we obliterated their sites' in the June 22 strikes on nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
Egypt Independent
19 hours ago
- Business
- Egypt Independent
FM intensifies diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions
CAIRO, July 18 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Expatriates Badr Abdelatty continued his intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions. As part of these efforts, Abdelatty held separate consultations with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tamim Khallaf said on Friday that the discussions focused on advancing efforts to secure a durable ceasefire between Iran and Israel, avert a resurgence of hostilities, and strengthen political and diplomatic channels for conflict settlement. The talks also examined prospects for reviving negotiations between Iran, the IAEA, and the E3 group, with a view to reinvigorating diplomatic engagement and addressing persisting concerns over Iran's nuclear program, the spokesman said. This comes as the anticipated date to activate the UN sanctions mechanism draws near, expected within the next few weeks, according to announcements from the E3 countries, the spokesman added. During his call with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Abdelatty discussed prospects for enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and tourism, he added. In a separate conversation with the IAEA Director General, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Egypt and the agency in the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. (MENA)
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Iran says Europeans have no grounds to trigger sanctions snapback
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his European counterparts Friday they have no grounds for reactivating UN sanctions after they threatened to do so in coming months unless there is progress in nuclear talks. 'If the 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 (have) absolutely no moral (or) legal grounds,' Mr. Araghchi said on X. I had a joint teleconference with E3 FMs & EU HR last night, in which I made the following points clear: It was the US that withdrew from a two-year negotiated deal -coordinated by EU in 2015- not Iran; and it was US that left the negotiation table in June this year and chose a… — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 18, 2025 He added that 'any new round of talks is only possible when the other side is ready for a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.' The remarks came after Mr. Araghchi held a conference call with his British, French and German counterparts and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The European diplomats told Mr. Araghchi of 'their determination to use the 'snapback' mechanism — which allows for the reimposition of all international sanctions against Iran — in the absence of concrete progress' towards a new deal on Iran's nuclear programme 'by the end of the summer', the French Foreign Ministry said. French officials have previously indicated that means by the end of August. Last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the Europeans would be 'justified' in seeking a snapback of UN sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, later abandoned by U.S. President Donald Trump. 'Without a firm, tangible, and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will do so no later than the end of August,' he told reporters. Last week, Mr. Araghchi urged the Europeans to play 'a constructive role' on the nuclear issue. 'The threat of sanctions does not help diplomacy,' Mr. Araghchi told French newspaper Le Monde. There has been much speculation about the status of Iran's nuclear programme since Israel and the United States bombed key facilities last month. A clause in the 2015 agreement allows for UN sanctions on Iran to be reimposed through a snapback mechanism in the event of non-compliance. But the deal expires in October giving the parties to it a fast looming deadline to invoke the clause. Iran and the United States held several rounds of nuclear negotiations through Omani mediators before Israel launched its 12-day war on June 13. Mr. Trump's decision to join Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities effectively ended the talks. Since the end of the hostilities, both Tehran and Washington have signalled willingness to return to the table, though Tehran has said it will not give up its right to the peaceful use of nuclear power. An adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in matters of state, said on Monday (July 14, 2025) there would be no new nuclear talks with the United States if they were conditioned on Iran renouncing uranium enrichment.
Middle East
2 days ago
- Business
- Middle East
OPEN// FM intensifies diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions
CAIRO, July 18 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Expatriates Badr Abdelatty continued his intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions. As part of these efforts, Abdelatty held separate consultations with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tamim Khallaf said on Friday that the discussions focused on advancing efforts to secure a durable ceasefire between Iran and Israel, avert a resurgence of hostilities, and strengthen political and diplomatic channels for conflict settlement. The talks also examined prospects for reviving negotiations between Iran, the IAEA, and the E3 group, with a view to reinvigorating diplomatic engagement and addressing persisting concerns over Iran's nuclear program, the spokesman said. This comes as the anticipated date to activate the UN sanctions mechanism draws near, expected within the next few weeks, according to announcements from the E3 countries, the spokesman added. During his call with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Abdelatty discussed prospects for enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and tourism, he added. In a separate conversation with the IAEA Director General, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Egypt and the agency in the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. (MENA) R R N/
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt FM holds talks with UK, Iran, and IAEA on Tehran nuclear programme - Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty discussed ways to revive talks on Tehran's nuclear programme in separate phone calls on Friday with his British counterpart, David Lammy, his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi. Abdelatty explored ways to resume negotiations between Iran, the IAEA, and the E3 group, which comprises the UK, France, and Germany. These negotiations would help restore diplomatic momentum and address concerns related to Iran's nuclear programme, especially with the anticipated activation of the UN sanctions mechanism on Iran by the end of August, as recently announced by the E3 group. During the calls, Abdelatty emphasised the need to sustain the Iran-Israel ceasefire, ensure that hostilities do not resume, and support a political and peaceful path forward. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty's intensive communications also addressed the ongoing de-escalation efforts to reduce regional tensions. During his call with his British counterpart, the Egyptian Foreign Minister addressed ways to develop and strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment, and tourism. On the other hand, Abdelatty and the IAEA chief focused on enhancing cooperation between Egypt and the agency in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Throughout April and May, the US and Iran held several rounds of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme before the Israeli strikes on Iran began in June. On 2 July, Araghchi, whose country insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, said in TV remarks that 'the doors of diplomacy will never slam shut.' Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA on the same day. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
