An Iranian assembly line worker seen near a portrait of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Tabriz Tractor Factory on September 17, 2025, in Tabriz, Iran.
Atta Kenare / AFP
European diplomats scramble to push Tehran to address nuclear concerns before imposing “snapback” sanctions.
Last-minute negotiations between European powers and Iran on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly failed to yield a breakthrough, just days before a deadline to prevent new sanctions. While Europe seeks to avoid punitive measures, diplomats acknowledge that Tehran remains steadfast on its nuclear program.
On Tuesday, September 23rd, the foreign ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and Germany–known as E3–together with the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas, met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
According to a French diplomat, “Iran has not fulfilled the conditions but the talks will continue to explore all possibilities until the end.” The diplomat added that the ball was now “in Iran’s court” ahead of a Saturday deadline when “snapback” sanctions will be imposed on the country.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters, “The chances of reaching a diplomatic solution before the sanctions go into effect are slim. Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country would not give in. “We did not surrender and we will not. We did not and will not yield to pressure in this matter or any other matter,” Khamenei.
He called any talks with the United States a “dead end” and warned they would cause harm to Iran.
European diplomats urged Iran to “take practical steps within the next days, if not hours” to address nuclear concerns, while French President Emmanuel Macron said he would meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.
Rebeka Kis is a fifth-year law student at the University of Pécs. Her main interests are politics and history, with experience in the EU’s day-to-day activities gained as an intern with the Foundation for a Civic Hungary at the European Parliament.
