GENEVA, Jan 15 (Alliance News): Iran will engage in nuclear talks with France, Britain, and Germany (E3) on Monday, just a week before US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, sparking fresh attention on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
This round follows a similar meeting in November and aims to address a “wide range of topics,” according to Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
The consultations focus primarily on lifting sanctions, with Iran also listening to European concerns.
France, Britain, and Germany, signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have expressed frustration over Tehran’s rollback of commitments since the US withdrawal under Trump’s administration. Efforts to revive the deal have faltered, exacerbating tensions.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently warned that Iran’s nuclear activities are nearing a “breaking point,” a claim dismissed by Tehran as “baseless.”
The E3 has raised alarms over Iran’s accumulation of enriched uranium, now at 60%, edging toward the 90% required for nuclear weapons, though Tehran insists its programme is for peaceful purposes.
The talks carry urgency, as the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism, which allows reimposition of UN sanctions in case of significant non-compliance, expires in October. Iran maintains its willingness to revive the deal, reiterating its call for trust-building in exchange for sanction relief.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has underscored the risks posed by Iran’s nuclear programme, adding further pressure to ongoing diplomatic efforts to avert escalation.