Iran, European powers to resume nuclear talks before sanctions deadline

23/8/2025 6:10

Iran and European powers will resume talks on Tehran's nuclear program and sanctions relief on Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry said, days before a deadline set by France, Britain and Germany to trigger a "snapback" sanctions mechanism.

The decision followed a joint phone call on Friday between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Britain -- Jean-Noel Barrot, Johann Wadephul and David Lammy -- and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the ministry said. The meeting will be held at deputy foreign minister level.

The "snapback" clause, part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), allows world powers to reimpose international sanctions if Iran fails to comply with the deal. Araghchi said the three European states lack the authority to invoke the mechanism and warned of consequences if sanctions were restored.

French Foreign Minister Barrot confirmed the talks in a post on X, saying he has spoken with his German and British counterparts as well as the EU's Kallas and Iran's Araghchi about the nuclear program and "the sanctions against Iran that we are preparing to reapply."

Araghchi said Iran will act "powerfully" to defend itself but remains committed to diplomacy. He also addressed a European proposal to extend provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, to allow more time for negotiations. Any such decision, he said, lies with the Security Council.

According to the Iranian statement, France, Germany, and Britain have offered Tehran a limited extension of Resolution 2231 in exchange for resuming talks with the United States and addressing Western concerns about its nuclear program. The European ministers reiterated their readiness to seek a diplomatic solution.

Since September last year, Iran has held several rounds of talks with the three European states, most recently in Istanbul in late July.