Diplomats from Germany, France, the U.K. and the EU met with an Iranian delegation at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye, today to discuss the matter of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. “[W]e held a serious, frank, and detailed discussion with the E3/EU Pds (political directors),” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on X afterwards. “The latest developments regarding the issue of sanctions lifting and the nuclear issue were discussed and reviewed. While seriously criticizing their stances regarding the recent war of aggression against our people, we explained our principled positions, including on the so-called snapback mechanism. Both sides came to the meeting with specific ideas, the various aspects of which were examined. It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue.”
According to an early morning report in Financial Times, the Europeans came to the meeting prepared to offer Iran an extension on a looming deadline to reimpose international sanctions, if they agreed to conditions including resuming talks with Washington and co-operating with UN nuclear inspectors. “A possible delay in triggering snapback”—of UN sanctions that were lifted under the JCPOA in 2015—"has been floated to the Iranians on the condition that there is credible diplomatic engagement by Iran, that they resume full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and that they address concerns about their highly- enriched uranium stockpile,” an unnamed European diplomat said.
FT cited Gharibabadi saying that Iran’s engagement was dependent on “several key principles” that included “rebuilding Iran’s trust—as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States.” In a social media post on July 24, he also said the talks shouldn’t be used “as a platform for hidden agendas such as military action.” Gharibabadi insisted that Iran’s right to enrich uranium “in line with its legitimate needs” be respected and sanctions removed.
Looming over the entire discussion process is the threat of another Israeli and/or American strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities—a threat which President Trump made explicitly on July 21, warning that “we will do it again, if necessary”—i.e., if Iran dares resume any nuclear enrichment.
FT also noted that Iran has held talks with Russia and China—other signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal—in Tehran this week, though no details have been released.
