Diplomats from Iran and three European countries convened in Istanbul on Friday to discuss the now-stalled 2015 nuclear deal, according to Iran’s deputy foreign minister, though he provided no details on any progress made.
The talks between senior diplomats from Iran, Britain, France, and Germany (the E3) took place ahead of a fifth round of expected U.S.-Iranian negotiations.
Under the terms of a U.N. resolution ratifying the 2015 nuclear agreement, the three European powers have the option to reimpose U.N. sanctions against Tehran, a mechanism known as the “snapback,” if no agreement is reached regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
According to diplomats and a document seen by Reuters, the E3 countries may activate the snapback mechanism as early as August if no significant deal is reached by then, with the window closing on October 18.
Iran and the European countries agreed to hold further discussions if necessary, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X on Friday.
“Iran and the three European countries are determined to maintain and make optimal use of diplomacy,” Gharibabadi said. “We will meet again to continue the discussions if necessary.”
Relations between the E3 and Iran have deteriorated over the past year, despite sporadic meetings, amid new sanctions imposed on Tehran concerning its ballistic missile program, the detention of foreign nationals, and its support for Russia in the war against Ukraine.
The European powers are not directly involved in the current negotiations between Iran and the United States, the fourth round of which concluded in Oman on Sunday.
However, the three powers have been coordinating closely with Washington to determine whether and when to utilize the snapback mechanism to increase pressure on Iran regarding its nuclear program.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the national security advisors of the E3 powers on Friday to discuss Ukraine and Iran, according to a U.S. official.
