Iran to hold talks with European powers before next round of U.S. nuclear negotiations

Iran plans to meet with representatives from Britain, France, and Germany in Rome on Friday, ahead of a new round of nuclear talks with the United States scheduled for Saturday, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

This move follows Iran’s proposal to re-engage with the E3 nations, signatories of the 2015 nuclear agreement which began to fall apart after the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump.

Although initially hesitant, the European countries have agreed to attend the talks in order to maintain communication with Tehran and clarify their expectations for any potential future agreement. Their political directors met with U.S. officials in Berlin on Wednesday to coordinate ahead of the Rome discussions.

Araqchi criticized the E3 for what he called "misguided policies" but stated Iran’s willingness to engage. The meeting also comes as Iran evaluates the possibility of the "snapback mechanism" being triggered in October, which could lead to the reinstatement of UN sanctions as the original nuclear deal nears expiration.

Tensions between Iran and the E3 have risen over the past year, fueled by European criticism of Iran’s missile program, its imprisonment of foreign nationals, and support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot warned that France would support reimposing sanctions if current talks fail, claiming Iran is close to secretly developing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies.

In response, Iran’s UN representative condemned Barrot’s remarks as baseless and accused France of using coercive political and economic tactics. Iran insists its nuclear activities are strictly for civilian energy.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury has issued new sanctions on a network allegedly involved in sourcing missile materials for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Araqchi called the move counterproductive amid ongoing negotiations.

Despite the friction, Iran continues to pursue talks, including recent ones with Russia and China, and aims to keep dialogue open with all involved parties as it prepares for renewed engagement with the U.S.

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