Britain, France, and Germany are preparing to reopen nuclear negotiations with Iran in the coming days, according to a German diplomatic source quoted by AFP on Sunday.
The three nations—commonly referred to as the E3—have contacted Tehran to arrange renewed talks this week, amid mounting pressure over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and threats to reinstate international sanctions.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency also confirmed that Tehran has agreed in principle to hold discussions with the trio, citing an unnamed source.
Consultations are reportedly ongoing to determine the exact timing and venue of the talks.
The push for dialogue follows a joint call on Friday between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his counterparts from Britain, France, Germany, and the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.
During the call, the European representatives warned Iran that failure to return to negotiations could trigger the so-called “snapback” mechanism, restoring sanctions that were lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Tehran had previously engaged in indirect nuclear discussions with the United States, mediated by Oman. However, those talks collapsed following the outbreak of a brief but intense 12-day war with Israel that began on June 13.
The conflict escalated when US President Donald Trump authorised American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israel’s assault, effectively halting all diplomatic progress.
“Iran must never be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon. That is why the E3 are continuing to push for a reliable and transparent diplomatic solution,” the German source stated.
Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for relief from international sanctions.
However, the agreement began to fall apart in 2018 when the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the accord and reinstated economic penalties.
The German official added that if meaningful progress isn’t made before the end of summer, the E3 will seriously consider invoking the snapback mechanism.
