Europe and Iran: Reviving the Nuclear Deal Amid Rising Tensions
France, Britain, and Germany are set for in-person talks with Iran in Istanbul, aiming to rekindle negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and avert international sanctions. With an impending October deadline and Russia's upcoming Security Council presidency, the E3 hopes to extend the existing deal and delay sanctions.
In a pivotal diplomatic move, France, Britain, and Germany are preparing for face-to-face discussions with Iran in Istanbul this Friday. This marks the first such interaction since military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites by the U.S. and Israel in June and comes as pressure mounts with an October deadline approaching for the expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal.
The E3 nations are keen to assess Iran's willingness to negotiate and to avoid re-imposing sanctions potentially. The talks follow a series of U.S.-Iran negotiations, which stagnated after U.S. military interventions, leaving European diplomats persistent in trying to rekindle talks. The meeting aims to prevent the deal's collapse and to address gaps, including the whereabouts of a substantial amount of enriched uranium.
European representatives have stressed the urgency of re-engaging Iran, especially with Russia set to lead the U.N. Security Council in October. The E3 strategy includes proposing an extension to the snapback mechanism deadline to continue sanctions relief while ensuring Iran's accountability. However, Tehran warns of a severe response if the snapback mechanism is activated.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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