Iran, E3 resolved to sustain, optimally use diplomacy: Deputy FM
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says Iran and the European trio of Britain, France, and Germany (E3) are resolute on making optimal use of diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Gharibabadi made the remark in a post on his X account on Friday following his meeting with representatives of the three European members of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi was also present in the meeting.
He said the Iranian representatives and E3 political directors exchanged views and discussed the latest status of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States and the lifting of sanctions.
“Iran and the E3 are determined to sustain and make best use of diplomacy,” Gharibabadi wrote.
He noted that Iran and the E3 would meet again, if necessary, to continue discussions.
In an op-ed in the French magazine Le Point, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran and the E3 held “preliminary discussions at the deputy foreign minister level—a fragile but promising beginning.”
“But time is running out. How we respond at this pivotal moment will define the future of Iran-Europe relations far more profoundly than many may anticipate. Iran stands ready to turn the page. We hope our European partners are, too,” he wrote.
On Monday, Araghchi also warned that abuse of the snapback mechanism would not only end Europe’s role in the JCPOA but would also escalate tensions that could become irreversible.
Iran has held four rounds of indirect talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump since April on a replacement for the JCPOA, which have been generally described as positive by the two sides.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US president’s regional envoy Steve Witkoff are leading the negotiating teams. The talks are mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi.
Iran now wants guarantees that the US will remove all the sanctions and won’t again unilaterally derail the new deal.
EU, Iran representatives to meet later Friday
The Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet the European Union’s deputy secretary-general for political affairs, Olof Skoog, in Istanbul later Friday.
The talks will revolve around the removal of sanctions and nuclear issues.
