Iran will meet with European powers France, Germany, and the UK in Istanbul on Friday to discuss the future of the 2015 nuclear deal, amid renewed diplomatic signals from Tehran and concerns over sidelined European involvement in U.S.–Iran talks.
Iran has confirmed it will meet representatives from France, Germany, and the UK - the European troika (E3) - on Friday in Istanbul to discuss the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA).
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state media that the talks will also cover ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Originally scheduled for May 2 in Rome, both meetings were delayed for logistical reasons.
Last Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat. The Istanbul meeting with the E3 follows Araghchi’s recent statements signalling Iran’s readiness to resume diplomacy with European powers.
“I am ready to take the first step with visits to Paris, Berlin and London,” Araghchi posted on X, renewing Tehran’s call for dialogue. He also criticised what he described as the EU’s “inaction and silence” in response to these overtures.
In an interview with Le Point, Araghchi warned European leaders against pursuing a “strategy of confrontation” that he said could risk sparking wider nuclear proliferation. He further cautioned against activating the UN “snapback” sanctions mechanism - a clause within the JCPoA that allows for sanctions to be reinstated if Iran is found in violation.
According to Araghchi, the mechanism is now being used as a diplomatic lever rather than as a last-resort dispute tool. The warning comes amid growing concern within the E3 over being sidelined in the current U.S.–Iran track.
In the early 2000s, the E3 led nuclear talks with Iran before the broader P5+1 format emerged, which brought in the U.S., Russia, and China. That framework eventually produced the JCPoA in 2015 and led to UN Resolution 2231, lifting sanctions in return for Iran’s nuclear commitments.
Now, the E3 is watching from the margins as bilateral U.S.–Iran talks advance. These latest meetings come weeks after a letter from President Donald Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signalling a new push from Washington.
Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, now faces scepticism in Europe about his commitment to transatlantic cooperation. That unease has grown as U.S.–Iran talks gain momentum while the E3 remains in the background.
Despite tensions, Iran is pushing to keep the European channel open. Araghchi, who played a central role in the original deal, is urging renewed cooperation amid warnings from the E3 about reintroducing UN sanctions when Resolution 2231 is reviewed this October.
While both Tehran and Washington have described recent discussions as “positive,” the outcome of Friday’s E3–Iran meeting may prove pivotal. Diplomats from Berlin, Paris, and London are expected to weigh whether a broader diplomatic track can still be revived.
Nvidia, the world's most valuable chip company, is investigating its own boss, and China says the reasons behind it are false....
Spain’s government has approved a package of rail safety measures after train drivers went on strike on Tuesday to demand more investment in ...
Russia has declared a Moldovan diplomat at the country’s embassy in Moscow undesirable, in retaliation fo...
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first formal talks in nine months. They did so with no agreement on what a ceasefire would be tied to or who gets to keep the land currently under Russian control.
At least 17 people have been reported killed in an explosion at a steel plant in western Türkiye, after a crane collapsed during maintenance work. The disaster has prompted a criminal investigation into what went wrong at the industrial facility.
Russia and Ukraine are set to return to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for a fourth round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, with European participation, security guarantees and territorial disputes expected to shape the negotiations.
Nvidia has launched an independent investigation into whether its chief executive, Jensen Huang, was targeted in a foreign intelligence operation, following allegations that a businesswoman with whom he had a relationship passed information to Beijing.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Washington believes the Russian President is prepared to reach a peace agreement under the right conditions, as U.S., Russian and Ukrainian delegations began trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 10 November.
Trade along the Middle Corridor is accelerating, opening new opportunities for Central Asia and the South Caucasus as countries strengthen transport links between China and Europe. Cargo volumes reached around 4.7 million tonnes in 2025, up from less than one million tonnes in 2021.
Kazakhstan says the North Aral Sea’s water volume has risen by 24 per cent since 2022, reaching 23.4 billion cubic metres. The figures were unveiled at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, as the country outlined ambitious plans to accelerate restoration.
Israel’s newly elected parliament was sworn in on Tuesday amid political deadlock, with President Isaac Herzog urging lawmakers to avoid another election as Gadi Eisenkot struggles to form a government.
Pakistani and Saudi investors have agreed to launch a private equity fund worth hundreds of millions, with 75 per cent of the money set to be invested in Pakistan, as the two countries strengthen economic ties.
The European Commission has confirmed that Georgian government representatives will not be invited to next week's EU Enlargement Forum in Brussels, while offering Tbilisi lower-level participation in a separate ministerial meeting on connectivity.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment