TEHRAN – The Iranian and French European trio, Germany and the UK (E3), are set to hold new nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday amid growing warnings from Tehran to trigger UN sanctions through the “snapback mechanism” of its 2015 nuclear contract.
Esmail Baqaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on Wednesday that Iran and E3’s Deputy Foreign Minister will meet in Istanbul to discuss ongoing nuclear diplomacy, including an indirect speech with the United States.
“The meeting, planned on Friday, aims to continue consultations with E3 on key issues, including nuclear agreements and regional development,” Baqaei said.
On the same day, Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut repeatedly prepared for Iran’s involvement with Europe, criticising E3’s approach and spoke with reporters after a cabinet meeting.
“We are ready to negotiate, but unfortunately Europe is isolated through its own policies,” he said.
The lecture will be given after multiple delays. The round before the negotiations for Iranian E3, originally scheduled for early May in Rome, was postponed due to a shift in the timeline of indirect talks between the US and Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister for International Affairs, Qasem Galibabadi described the previous discussion with E3 as “open and constructive” in a statement in January, highlighting that Tehran raised issues such as sanctions relief, nuclear cooperation and Europe’s “unacceptable support for Israeli crimes in Gaza.”
Iran’s warning about snapbacks
Araghchi issued a harsh warning on the European powers on Sunday, saying that attempts to invoke a snapback mechanism under UN resolution 2231 would jeopardize “the end of Europe’s role in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)” and “irreversible tensions.”
His post is part of Le Point’s longer Op-Ed, which he writes:
Iran claims that despite the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, the obvious European enthusiasm to trigger the snapback reflects the maliciousness and undermines Tehran’s compliance efforts.
From Tehran’s perspective, re-imagining sanctions disrupt diplomatic channels and solidifies their consistency with European “maximum pressure” tactics.
Especially in Iran’s recent European experience, when bold promises eased economic hardships and committed to adherence to international commitments, Terran was determined to continue his commitment to the JCPOA, even as Trump unilaterally closed the deal and imposed crippling sanctions in his first semester.
E3 has long vowed to “preserve” the agreement and play a constructive role, but their actions ultimately reflected unhelpful actions in the United States.
Strategic turmoil and sidelines in Europe
Iran has consistently tried to repeat with Europe again, but the role of E3 has diminished amidst Washington’s one-sided diplomacy.
European frustration peaked in April, when the US began indirect consultations with Iran in Oman despite its pivotal role in enforcing sanctions, without consulting its allies.
Meanwhile, Aragucci repeatedly emphasizes Tehran’s willingness to rebuild his ties, including offers to visit Paris, Berlin and London. “We are not trying to rule out Europe. Global understanding, including IAEA surveillance, remains important,” he said.
Iran has expanded its diplomatic outreach and is consulting with Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar on the nuclear issue. Therefore, it is not Iran that chose to stand by and exclude Europe.
Europe grossi nexus
Meanwhile, criticism of IAEA Director Rafael Grossi has intensified in Tehran. Iranian officials have noted that Grossi has politicized the agency’s mission by issuing untested statements, including his recent claim that Iran could “develop six to seven nuclear bombs.”
The Tehran Times previously revealed that E3 supports Grossi’s bid to become the next UN Secretary-General in exchange for European punitive agenda on Iran.
Sources suggest that Grossi’s actions aim to justify future reports that could allow E3 to trigger snapback sanctions. It derails diplomacy and undermines the prospects of a truly balanced dialogue with Tehran.