Iran and Europe hold talks on delaying UN sanctions reimposition

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will hold a call with British, French and German counterparts, alongside European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, to discuss the potential reimposition of United Nations sanctions and conditions for delaying the move.

Tehran is seeking to avert the automatic return of international sanctions over its nuclear programme as European powers weigh whether to proceed with the UN snapback mechanism. The call comes after the UK, France and Germany triggered a one-month process in August that could restore measures lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, which began to unravel after the U.S. withdrawal in 2018.

One of the key conditions for postponing sanctions has been renewed cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Last week, Tehran reached an agreement with the UN nuclear watchdog to resume collaboration, including inspections of nuclear sites. This step followed months of disruption, partly linked to Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian facilities in June and Tehran’s own security concerns.

Iranian officials have urged the European powers, known collectively as the E3, to respond with "positive approach and goodwill" if they wish to avoid an escalation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that undermining the IAEA process would be a sign of rejection of the agency itself.

Tehran continues to deny it is seeking nuclear weapons and maintains its uranium enrichment programme is for peaceful purposes. Officials emphasised that perpetuating current tensions would not serve the interests of any side.

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