Iran and three European countries—Germany, France, and the UK—have agreed in principle to restart nuclear negotiations next week, according to Iranian state media.
The European countries warned Iran on Thursday that they would trigger the UN “snapback” mechanism, reimposing sanctions, if diplomacy is not resumed.
Talks between Tehran and the U.S., mediated by Oman, were underway until Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13 triggered a 12-day war—derailing a planned sixth round of negotiations set for just two days later in Muscat.
Iran blames the U.S. for backing Israel and insists any new deal must be fair and mutually beneficial. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized Western pressure tactics and urged the EU to act responsibly if it wants a role in the process. Araghchi told his European counterparts Friday they have no grounds for reactivating UN sanctions.
“If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the ‘snap-back’ for which they (have) absolutely no moral (or) legal grounds,” Araghchi said on X.
While the U.S. and European nations insist Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful energy purposes.
