Iran, EU Trio Set to Restart Stalled Nuclear Negotiations

(MENAFN) Iran and the three key European powers — the UK, France, and Germany — have tentatively agreed to restart stalled nuclear negotiations as early as next week, according to a report from media on Sunday.

Quoting an unnamed source, media stated that both parties are on board to resume dialogue, though the final details — including the time and location — remain under discussion.

This development follows high-level discussions last Thursday, where foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union pressed Iran on the urgency of diplomatic re-engagement. They warned that without progress, they were prepared to activate the United Nations "snapback" mechanism — a move that would reimpose wide-ranging international sanctions on Tehran.

Prior to a dramatic escalation in regional tensions, indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran had been underway via Omani intermediaries. However, those efforts came to a halt after Israel launched a surprise military assault on Iran on June 13, sparking a 12-day conflict. The attack, which occurred just two days before a planned sixth round of negotiations in Muscat, effectively derailed the process.

Tehran has accused Washington of aiding the Israeli offensive — an assault that claimed the lives of senior Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. In parallel, U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on three critical Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring them obliterated. A ceasefire agreement was reached on June 24.

While Western powers maintain that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, Iranian officials continue to insist that their nuclear activities are solely for peaceful energy production.

Following last week’s discussions with the European trio and the EU, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pointed to the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord as the root of current tensions, stating that any future negotiations depend on genuine commitment.

Following discussions with the E3 and the EU, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that it was the United States that exited the 2015 nuclear agreement. He made clear that fresh negotiations can only proceed “when the other side is ready for a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.”

He further criticized the EU and E3 approach, posting on X: “If 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 lack absolutely no moral and legal ground.”

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