Iran and three European powers — Britain, France, and Germany — will meet in Geneva on Tuesday for a fresh round of nuclear talks, Iranian state media announced on Monday. The European Union will also participate in the meeting, which will be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers.
The talks mark the second engagement since Iran’s 12-day conflict with Israel in June, during which the United States carried out strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities. The previous round was held in Istanbul on July 25.
The Geneva meeting comes amid heightened tensions after Tehran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing the watchdog of failing to condemn Israeli and US strikes. The suspension has further complicated already fragile negotiations, as European governments warn of activating a “snapback mechanism” under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to reinstate UN sanctions unless Iran reverses its uranium enrichment activities and restores IAEA access.
Iran disputes the legality of the clause and accuses the Europeans of failing to honour their own commitments under the nuclear accord. The JCPOA, signed in 2015 by Iran and six world powers, offered sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The deal was severely weakened by the United States’ unilateral withdrawal in 2018 under former President Donald Trump, which triggered the reimposition of sweeping US sanctions. Although Britain, France, and Germany pledged to uphold the accord, their efforts to shield Iran from the sanctions’ impact largely faltered, prompting many Western firms to exit the Iranian market.
READ ALSO: Iran Confirms Death of 12 Journalists in Israeli Airstrikes
With a deadline to activate the snapback mechanism set for October, European officials have reportedly offered an extension if Tehran resumes engagement with Washington and reopens cooperation with the IAEA.
However, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has dismissed the European stance, insisting they have no legal grounds to trigger the mechanism.
The outcome of Tuesday’s talks in Geneva could prove pivotal in determining whether the 2015 nuclear deal can be salvaged or if Tehran and its European counterparts edge closer to a diplomatic breakdown.