European countries are planning new nuclear talks with Iran in the coming days, according to a German diplomat. Britain, France, and Germany, known as the E3, have reached out to Iran to fix a time and place for the next meeting.
This will be the first round of discussions since the United States launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites a month ago. Iran’s local media also reported that Tehran is open to the talks, though details are still being worked out.
A German source confirmed that the E3 is working hard to find a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue. He added, “Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Iran has always denied trying to build nuclear weapons. But countries like Israel, the U.S., and many in the West continue to accuse Tehran of secretly developing them.
On June 13, Israel carried out major strikes on Iran, hitting key military and nuclear sites. A few days later, the U.S. launched its attacks, targeting nuclear facilities in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. These strikes led to the collapse of earlier nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S.
Before the strikes, Iran and the U.S. had held talks through mediators from Oman. The E3 last met with Iran in Geneva on June 21, just a day before the U.S. attacks began.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Ali Larijani, Iran’s top nuclear adviser. They discussed the tense situation in the Middle East and the future of Iran’s nuclear program. Russia supports Iran but has stayed quiet after the U.S. joined the bombing campaign.
The original 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), provided Iran with relief from sanctions in exchange for limitations on its nuclear activities. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal, leaving it in crisis.
Recently, the E3 threatened to activate the “snapback,” a move that would bring back sanctions on Iran. Iran’s foreign minister warned the EU against such actions, stating that there is no legal or moral justification for them.
Iran also made it clear that it won’t agree to new talks with the U.S. if it is forced to stop uranium enrichment.
