Iranian and European officials will meet in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16 to discuss a lapsed nuclear deal that had sought to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has confirmed.
At the upcoming talks, Iranian diplomats will meet their British, French, and German counterparts to discuss parameters of a potential new nuclear deal now being negotiated between Tehran and Washington.
The announcement comes after an earlier meeting between European and Iranian officials, originally slated for May 2, was postponed.
Britain, France, and Germany—collectively known as the E3 group of nations—were all signatories to the earlier nuclear deal, which was first signed in 2015.
Along with Iran and the United States, Russia and China were also signatories to the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
During President Donald Trump’s first term in office, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
Under the terms of a United Nations resolution ratifying the JCPOA, the E3 states can also reimpose U.N. sanctions on Tehran before Oct. 18—a process known as a “snapback mechanism.”
On May 11, Araqchi warned Britain, France, and Germany that activation of the “snapback mechanism” could escalate tensions.
“Iran has made its position clear,” he wrote in a May 11 column in French weekly magazine Le Point. “We have officially warned all JCPOA signatories that abuse of the snapback mechanism will lead to consequences—not only the end of Europe’s role in the agreement, but also an escalation of tensions that could become irreversible.”
‘Difficult’ Talks With US
Since entering the White House in January, the Trump administration has sought to negotiate a renewed nuclear deal with Iran.On May 11, a fourth round of U.S.–Iran talks was held in Oman, which has acted as mediator between the two adversaries since negotiations kicked off in April.
While the E3 states are not part of the Oman-hosted talks, they are coordinating closely with Washington on the possible reimposition of sanctions on Iran.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Tehran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons and has threatened the use of military force if the talks break down.
Tehran, for its part, says its nuclear energy program is intended solely for civilian purposes.
Araqchi described this week’s talks in Oman, which focused on the issue of uranium enrichment, as “difficult,” calling on U.S. negotiators to adopt “more realistic positions.”
Speaking to reporters on May 12, Trump struck a conciliatory note, saying that Tehran was “talking intelligently.”
“We want Iran to be wealthy and ... great, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
“I think they understand that I mean business, and I think they’re being very reasonable thus far.”
The next day, however, Trump adopted a harsher tone, describing Iran as the “most destructive force” in the Middle East and blaming it for regional instability.
“If Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch ... we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure,” he said in Saudi capital Riyadh.
Araqchi later described Trump’s remarks as “deceptive.”
“It is the U.S. that has prevented Iran’s progress through sanctions,” he said.
