Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and his French, British and German counterparts agreed on Friday to resume talks next week on nuclear and sanctions issues.
Araqchi spoke by phone with his French, German and British counterparts Friday to try to avoid the reimposition of UN sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme, just days ahead of a European deadline.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that talks would be held next week between Iran and the three European countries, known as the E3, that are signatory to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal from which the US withdrew in 2018.
"We just had an important call involving my colleagues David Lammy, the Germany foreign minister, and Kaja Kallas with our Iranian counterpart regarding the nuclear programme and the sanctions against Iran that we are preparing to reapply," wrote Barrot on X.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed talks next week and warned Iran that sanctions would snap back into effect unless it reached a verifiable and durable deal to defuse concerns about its nuclear ambitions. He reiterated that time was very short and Iran needed to engage substantively.
European concerns over the Iranian programme has mounted since Tehran cut off all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran in June.
Read moreIran’s thorny IAEA relations hit new low after Israeli, US strikes
Iran has long insisted its programme is peaceful, though it is the only non-nuclear-armed nation enriching uranium at that level. The US, the IAEA and others say Iran had a nuclear weapons programme up until 2003.
After the call, a statement released on Araghchi's behalf via Telegram said he criticised the countries' “legal and moral qualifications” to threaten to reinstate the sanctions, but insisted talks would continue.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, just as it acts authoritatively in self defence, has never abandoned the path of diplomacy and is ready for any diplomatic solution that guarantees the rights and interests of the Iranian people,” the statement said.
'Snapback' deadline puts pressure on Iran and Europeans
In a letter dated August 8, the E3 warned Iran it would proceed with “snapback” if Tehran didn't reach a “satisfactory solution” to the nuclear issues. A deadline was set for August 31, leaving little time for Iran to likely reach any agreement with the Europeans, who have grown increasingly sceptical of Iran over years of inconclusive negotiations over its nuclear programme.
Restoring the IAEA's access is a key part of the talks. Iran has blamed the war with Israel in part on the IAEA, without offering any evidence. The IAEA issues quarterly reports on Iran's programme and the 2015 deal gave the agency greater access to keep track of it. Its Board of Governors voted to find Iran out of compliance with its obligations to the agency the day before the Iran-Israel war began.
Iran has also threatened its director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, with arrest if he comes to Iran, further complicating talks. Grossi is considering running to become the UN's secretary-general, something Tehran has seized on as well in its criticisms of the Argentine diplomat.
Alongside the European call with Iran, IAEA officials in Vienna were to meet with Iranian officials, a diplomat close to the agency told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting. Those talks would be a continuation of a discussion held during an August 11 visit to Tehran by Massimo Aparo, a deputy to Grossi, the diplomat added. Iranian state television also acknowledged the meeting would happen.
Araghchi has sought to downplay the threat that “snapback” poses. In his statement after the call, he said Iran would discuss the “snapback” threat with its friends, likely meaning China and Russia.
The “snapback” power in the nuclear accord expires in October, also putting pressure on the Europeans to potentially use it as leverage with Iran before losing that ability.
Under “snapback,” any party to the deal can find Iran in noncompliance, reimposing the sanctions. After it expires, any sanctions effort could face a veto from UN Security Council members China and Russia, two nations that have provided some support to Iran in the past but stayed out of the June war.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and Reuters)
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