European diplomats to continue Iranian nuclear talks after Istanbul

European diplomatic representatives met in Istanbul with an Iranian envoy, initiating a fresh attempt to revive negotiations aimed at curtailing or dismantling Tehran's contentious nuclear enrichment program.

The four hours of discussions unfolded on Friday amid heightened international scrutiny over Iran's nuclear trajectory and its broader geopolitical implications. The European delegation hoped to overcome a protracted impasse that has seen Iran progressively enhance its nuclear capabilities.

Senior foreign policy officials from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom – pivotal signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) – went to the Turkish commercial hub of Istanbul with a mandate to explore avenues for de-escalation and a return to adherence with international nuclear safeguards.

Their exchange was "serious, frank and detailed," based on "specific ideas" from both sides, and will be continued, said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. It was the first formal engagement between the two sides since the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel and U.S. airstrikes in June. 

The JCPOA, a landmark agreement, previously imposed stringent limitations on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, its efficacy was significantly undermined following the unilateral withdrawal of the United States in 2018 and the subsequent re-imposition of American sanctions, prompting Iran to gradually roll back its commitments under the accord.

The talks were held at the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, serving as the venue for these critical discussions with the so-called E3 group. Iranian state broadcasters consistently underscored Tehran's assertion of its sovereign right to peaceful nuclear technology. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been particularly vocal on this front.

In recent statements, including those on social media and in interviews with international media, Araghchi firmly declared Iran "cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists, and now, more than that, it is a question of national pride."

He acknowledged enrichment activities are "stopped" due to "serious and severe" damage to facilities following recent U.S. strikes, but stressed "the technology is there" and facilities can be rebuilt.

Seeking a 'win-win' solution

Araghchi also used social media platforms to challenge the European powers' position, saying the E3 "lack any legal, political, and moral standing to invoke the mechanisms of the JCPOA and U.N. Resolution 2231" for snapback sanctions, and accusing them of failing to uphold their obligations and supporting what he termed "Israeli-American war on Iran."

He cautioned the talks should not be exploited "as a platform for hidden agendas such as military action." While expressing openness to talks with the U.S. for a "win-win solution" involving the lifting of sanctions in exchange for proof of a peaceful nuclear program, he maintained direct negotiations are "not direct for the time being."

He also affirmed Iran's commitment to developing and manufacturing missiles, deeming them essential for national defense. Adding to the Iran's diplomatic posture, its foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, confirmed the Istanbul talks were held at the deputy ministerial level to discuss "lifting sanctions and issues related to the peaceful nuclear program of Iran."

He reiterated Iran's firm stance against the "snapback" mechanism, telling state news agency IRNA that Iran considers talk of extending U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 to be "meaningless and baseless." Baghaei said Iran has "no plans to hold talks with the U.S. in the current situation," though he emphasized diplomacy remains "a tool and opportunity to safeguard Iran's national interests."

He further criticized European countries for what he termed their "negligence in implementing" the nuclear agreement and for not condemning the recent Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

U.N. nuclear watchdog IAEA advocated for greater transparency and unfettered cooperation from Iran concerning the scope and nature of its nuclear activities. Recent agency assessments highlighted a notable expansion in Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles and the deployment of more advanced centrifuge cascades, developments that intensified concerns in Western capitals about a potential "breakout" capability.

The re-established direct diplomatic engagement signifies a critical step in de-risking a potentially volatile situation, however, and Istanbul's selection as the host city underscores its perceived neutrality and importance as a nexus for diplomacy.