Tehran-E3 Engagement: A Catalyst or Inhibitor in Iran-US Nuclear Talks?

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet diplomats from the European troika—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—in Rome on Friday, ahead of a scheduled fourth round of indirect talks with US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that his colleagues will meet representatives of the European troika of UK, France and Germany on Friday (E3) in Rome ahead of his scheduled fourth round of indirect  negotiations with US Special Envoy for Middle East Steve Witkoff to be held in the Italian capital.

The meeting with European powers that are signatories to the nuclear agreement signed in 2015 known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) in Vienna follows Araghchi's recent signal for renewed diplomatic engagement after he said Iran is ready to take the first step toward diplomacy with E3.

“I am ready to take the first step with visit to Paris, Berlin and London,” Araghchi wrote on his X account saying Iran once again proposes diplomacy.

Earlier, western media reports indicated European Union’s frustration at being sidelined from the Iran-US talks, especially after it threatened to take action on reimposing UN sanctions on Tehran’s nuclear program in two months if the current talks remain inconclusive.

Of added significance is selection of Rome for the second time as venue of the upcoming meeting of Iranian and US negotiators while the talks are mediated by Omani Foreign Ministry and held in Muscat twice so far.

Back in early 2000s, the European troika was the only party to Iran’s nuclear negotiations, but after its agreements with Iran could not be implemented because of opposition of the US, a new format of EU3+3 was devised and put to action.

By late 2000s, the US, China, and Russia -- three permanent members of the UN Security Council – had joined the Iran-E3 talks (also known as P5+1) ultimately leading to signing of the JCPoA deal and adoption of the UN Resolution 2231 same year lifting UN imposed sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program. 

Ironically, the E3 which previously helped to bring in the US to its talks with Iran, seems upset over being kept out of the Iran-US talks. These negotiations are taking place after US President Donald Trump wrote a letter in March to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

The same Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. However, a lesser trust by Trump 2.0 in the US-Europe transatlantic alliance may have increased concerns in Berlin, London and Paris about his administration’s  role in the current Iran-US nuclear discussions.

Araghchi who is a seasoned diplomat and played a key role in drafting and signing of the JCPoA has been building on the momentum of nuclear negotiations with the United States while the talks between Tehran and the E3 have been less than savory.

He has proposed the diplomatic track with the European troika amid their threats to table the proposal of reinstalling UN nuclear sanctions when the UNSC Resolution 2232 will be reviewed in October in New York.

It remains to be seen whether the European powers will welcome Tehran’s overture and boost the diplomatic process or act otherwise as a thrust reverse in the momentum on Iran’s nuclear program.

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