Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran

Tehran, Jul 21: Iran on Monday confirmed it will hold a fresh round of nuclear talks with European powers in Istanbul on Friday, marking the first dialogue since US airstrikes targeted its nuclear facilities last month.

According to state media, Iranian diplomats will meet with representatives from Britain, France, and Germany – the E3 – after the trio warned of the possible reimposition of sanctions if Tehran failed to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme.

“In response to the request of European countries, Iran has agreed to hold a new round of talks,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai said, as quoted on state television. The talks will centre around Iran’s nuclear programme.

A German diplomatic source told AFP the E3 remain committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and are working towards a verifiable diplomatic solution.

Tensions spiked after Israel launched surprise airstrikes on June 13 targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites. The US followed with its own strikes on June 22, hitting key enrichment facilities in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz.

The US and Iran had engaged in indirect nuclear talks via Omani mediators before the conflict escalated. However, President Donald Trump’s decision to support Israel’s military action effectively derailed the negotiations.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a surprise meeting in the Kremlin with Ali Larijani, senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader on nuclear affairs. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the meeting focused on the worsening situation in the Middle East and efforts to stabilise the region.

Iran and global powers had agreed to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), limiting Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the deal began to unravel in 2018 after the US unilaterally withdrew and reimposed sanctions.

In recent days, European nations have threatened to activate the JCPOA’s “snapback” mechanism – reinstating UN sanctions in response to Iran’s non-compliance. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back, arguing that the E3’s support of US and Israeli military actions had invalidated their status as JCPOA participants.

“Iran has shown it is capable of defeating any delusional 'dirty work' but remains open to meaningful diplomacy in good faith,” Araghchi stated.

Still, a German source maintained that unless a breakthrough occurs during the summer, snapback sanctions remain “an option” on the table.

Last week, Ayatollah Khamenei’s adviser Ali Velayati reiterated Iran’s refusal to negotiate with the US if such talks are conditioned on abandoning uranium enrichment.