Diplomatic Breakthrough: European Diplomats Meet with Iranians in Istanbul
In a significant development, European diplomats met with Iranian officials in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday, marking the first face-to-face encounter since Israel and the US bombed the country last month. The meeting, described as “serious, frank and detailed,” lasted around four hours, with both sides agreeing to continue negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. The talks were held between the E3 nations (Britain, France, and Germany) and Iran, with the aim of finding a solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The meeting comes amid concerns that sanctions lifted on Iran in 2015 could be reimposed if the country fails to comply with requirements. European leaders have warned that sanctions will start being reinstated by the end of August if there is no progress on reining in Iran’s nuclear program. A European diplomat said that a possible delay in triggering snapback sanctions has been floated to the Iranians on the condition that there is credible diplomatic engagement by Iran, full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and addressing concerns about their highly-enriched uranium stockpile.
The diplomatic efforts are crucial in preventing a further escalation of tensions in the region. Iran has vowed to retaliate if UN Security Council issues snapback sanctions on the anniversary of the nuclear deal. The country has also sought help from China and Russia to stall UN sanctions. With the situation remaining volatile, the international community is watching closely to see if the talks will yield a positive outcome and prevent a further deterioration of the situation.
