Iran will hold high-stakes nuclear negotiations with Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul this Friday, as confirmed by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. The deputy foreign minister-level talks come amid growing tensions over the potential reinstatement of UN sanctions through a controversial "snapback mechanism."
The European trio (E3) has warned they may trigger the mechanism by late August unless concrete progress is made in reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. This follows a month of heightened tensions after reported attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities involving Israel and the U.S.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned against using the snapback option in a social media post, stating: "The E3 must refrain from actions that deepen Security Council divisions. We're ready for meaningful diplomacy but will resist hostile measures." The mechanism could restore sanctions before the current UN resolution expires on October 18.
Prior to recent hostilities, Tehran and Washington conducted five rounds of mediated talks in Oman, struggling to resolve key issues like uranium enrichment levels. While Western powers seek to eliminate enriched uranium stocks, Iran maintains its nuclear program serves purely civilian purposes.
Analysts suggest this week's talks could determine whether diplomatic channels remain viable or give way to renewed economic pressure. The outcome may significantly impact regional stability and global energy markets, with oil prices already fluctuating amid the uncertainty.
