Why it matters:
Iran insists on fairness and mutual benefit in any future negotiations, while Europe and the U.S. have signaled they might reinstate pressure if Tehran doesn’t return to talks soon.
The big picture:
The diplomatic stalemate over the U.S. withdrawal from the 2025 JCPOA continues, with the European Union and the E3 (France, Britain, Germany) pushing for a return to negotiations, while Iran remains cautious, demanding a more equitable approach from the West.
What he is saying:
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, gave a response following a recent video conference with the foreign ministers of the E3 and the EU’s foreign policy chief. He outlined Iran's position clearly:
"Last night, I had a joint video conference with the foreign ministers of the three European countries (E3) and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs. In that meeting, I made the following points clear: It was the United States that withdrew from the agreement achieved in 2015, after two years of negotiations and coordination with the European Union, not Iran. It was the U.S. that left the negotiating table in June this year, choosing the military option instead, not Iran."
He further emphasized that: "Any new round of negotiations will only be possible if the other side is ready for a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear agreement. If the European Union and the three European countries want to play a role, they must act responsibly and abandon the outdated policy of threats and pressure, including threats to implement the 'snapback' mechanism, which has no ethical or legal basis."
Zoom in:
France, Britain, and Germany have urged Iran to return to nuclear negotiations, warning that failure to act by the end of summer could result in the reimposition of U.N. sanctions.
Go deeper:
Iran FM: Triggering Snapback Mechanism Would Equal Military Aggression
محمود مجدی
