Nournews: The deputy foreign ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, France, Germany, and the UK held a meeting on Friday to discuss mutual, regional, and international issues.
Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator, and Enrique Mora, the deputy foreign minister of the European Union, had already met on Thursday.
Prior to these meetings, Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, emphasized Iran’s principled policy of interaction and collaboration with other countries based on expediency, wisdom, and dignity. He described the talks with the three European countries as a continuation of discussions held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s annual meeting in New York.
He noted that the agenda included a range of issues, from regional and international concerns to Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran’s nuclear program.
Agreement on Continuing Talks
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, stated that the meeting concluded with an agreement to continue diplomatic talks.
Posting on his X account, he wrote:
“Another round of talks with the political managers of France, the UK, and Germany was held. The latest mutual, regional, and international developments, including the nuclear issue and the removal of sanctions, were discussed. We firmly pursue our people’s interests and prefer dialogue and negotiation. In this round, it was agreed to continue diplomatic talks.”
Gharibabadi also mentioned:
“We held direct discussions with Enrique Mora about the future of nuclear talks and the removal of sanctions, considering recent developments.”
He added that Iran had urged Mora to stop self-centered and irresponsible behavior on various global and regional issues.
Mora, in a post on X, confirmed the discussions, mentioning:
“I held direct talks with Iranian deputy foreign ministers Takht Ravanchi and Gharibabadi. Topics included Iran’s military support for Russia, the diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue, regional tensions, and human rights.”
Media Coverage of the Talks
Media outlets analyzed the meeting in detail. Reuters reported that Iran and European countries tested diplomacy ahead of a potential new Trump tenure.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that these dialogues are expected to be “serious and difficult” and that Tehran plans to inform Russia and China about the meeting next week.
The agency highlighted that the Middle East, Iran’s nuclear activities, and the Ukraine war were among the topics discussed. Despite concerns over Trump return, four European diplomats reportedly said the time to act was crucial.
A senior Iranian official stated:
“If we can reach an agreement with the three European countries to resolve nuclear disagreements, the ball will be in the US court to revive or destroy the 2015 agreement.”
Three Iranian officials noted that Tehran’s primary goal is to secure guarantees for lifting the sanctions imposed since 2018, following the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. One official remarked:
“Using the Geneva meeting to find common ground is our aim. Washington can join in the next phase.”
The Guardian also covered the developments.
Outlook on the Talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered his perspective, describing the meeting as a platform for reflecting on potential solutions to the current stalemate. However, he expressed pessimism about its outcome, stating:
“I am uncertain whether Iran is negotiating with the right parties. European countries have opted for a confrontational approach.”
He also noted that following the IAEA Board of Governors' resolution, Iran decided to deploy thousands of advanced centrifuges. However, Iran currently has no plans to increase uranium enrichment to 60%.
Araghchi emphasized:
“The path of cooperation remains open to resolving the issue with dignity and integrity.”
NOURNEWS