Iran and European Powers to Resume Nuclear Talks Amid Snapback Tensions

Tehran — Iran and the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, collectively known as the E3 — have agreed to resume talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim.

Citing an unnamed “informed source,” the report stated that consultations are ongoing regarding the date and venue of the meeting. The upcoming negotiations are expected to take place at the deputy foreign minister level. These talks mark the latest in a series of rounds held since September 2024, primarily focused on Iran’s nuclear activities and the potential lifting of international sanctions.

Tensions have escalated in recent months, with the E3 warning of invoking the snapback mechanism, a clause within the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers, the JCPOA allows the reimposition of international sanctions if Iran is found to be non-compliant. Tehran has repeatedly warned that any activation of the snapback clause would be met with a “strong response.”

On Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi issued a stern warning to the E3, cautioning against any move that would undermine the authority of the UN Security Council (UNSC). In a statement on social media platform X, Araghchi argued that Britain, France, and Germany “lack the legal, political, and moral standing” to trigger the snapback provision under either the JCPOA or UNSC Resolution 2231.

Araghchi emphasized that following the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018, Iran had followed all diplomatic procedures under the deal’s dispute resolution mechanism before taking corrective steps. He accused the E3 of failing to uphold their own commitments and of supporting Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign during the Trump administration.

“The E3 must refrain from actions that would further divide the Security Council or harm its functioning,” Araghchi said. He reiterated Iran’s willingness for “meaningful diplomacy” but insisted that Tehran will not tolerate any hostile or unilateral moves.

As the E3 and Iran edge closer to fresh talks, the future of the nuclear accord and regional stability hangs in a delicate balance.