Iran engaged in nuclear talks with European powers

 Monday, January 13, 2025

Islamabad (News International / Pakistan Point News - DW Urdu - 13 January 2025) This is the second time in less than two months that a Tehran delegation has held talks with the three European powers. Earlier, nuclear talks were held between Tehran and the three European powers in Geneva in November.

According to the German Foreign Minister, “These are not negotiations.” On the other hand, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has also described it as only “consultations.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghai said in his weekly press briefing, “The talks scheduled for Monday and Tuesday will cover various topics.

He said that the aim of the talks is to lift international sanctions on Iran, while Iran also wants to hear the points raised by the opposing parties.

On Thursday, the French Foreign Ministry said that the meeting is a sign that the E-3 countries believe in trying to find a diplomatic solution to Iran’s highly troubling nuclear issue.

The talks are taking place at a time when President-elect Donald Trump is taking office next week. During his previous term, Trump had adopted a policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran, while also withdrawing his country from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposing tougher sanctions on Iran once again.

After Washington’s withdrawal from the deal, Iran continued to claim to be in compliance with the agreement and at the same time pressured European countries to make concessions agreed in the nuclear deal. However, Iran later gradually distanced itself from the agreement.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the acceleration of Iran’s nuclear program was taking it close to a “breaking point.”

However, Iran called these statements “baseless” and “deceptive.”

In December, Britain, Germany and France accused Tehran of increasing its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to “extraordinary levels” without “any reasonable civilian justification.”

A joint statement issued by the three European countries said, “We reiterate our determination to use all diplomatic means to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, including the use of snapback if necessary.”

The snapback mechanism is part of the 2015 nuclear deal, which allows signatories to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran in the event of “clear breach of the agreement.”