NewzVille International
Iran will hold nuclear talks with Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, amid rising tensions over its nuclear programme.
Iranian diplomats are set to meet with counterparts from the three European nations, collectively known as the E3. The meeting comes after the E3 warned Tehran that sanctions could be reimposed if it fails to return to the negotiating table.
Previously, Iran and the United States had engaged in several rounds of indirect nuclear negotiations via Omani mediators. However, the talks collapsed after Israel launched a 12-day conflict targeting Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to support Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities effectively ended the dialogue.
The last meeting between the E3 and Iranian representatives took place in Geneva on June 21 — just one day before the U.S. strikes.
In the lead-up to the Istanbul talks, Iran has ruled out a return to the earlier nuclear agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the E3 lacks the legal, political, and moral authority to reactivate snapback sanctions. In a social media post, he said:
“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 U.S., the E3 have relinquished their role as ‘Participants’ in the JCPOA.”
