Tehran\u0019s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei fired a diplomatic salvo at the European trio of Britain, France and Germany on Monday, accusing them of "fault and negligence" in upholding the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The E3\u0019s recent threats to reimpose sanctions over Iran\u0019s atomic program have ignited a fresh round of tension.
In response, Iran and the E3 are set to meet at the deputy foreign minister level in Istanbul this Friday, aiming to defuse the standoff. This meeting follows the first call in a month between Iran\u0019s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi and the E3 ministers, alongside the EU\u0019s foreign policy chief, triggered by recent air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The E3, together with China and Russia, remain as the international partners bound by the landmark 2015 accord\u0014undermined in 2018 when the United States withdrew and reimposed sanctions. Now, the European powers warn they could activate the "snapback mechanism" by the end of August, restoring UN sanctions before the Security Council\u0019s resolution expires on October 18.
Baghaei urged the E3 to abandon "worn-out policies of threat and pressure" and engage responsibly. On the other side, Iran points to past negotiations mediated by Oman\u0014five rounds that collapsed over uranium enrichment levels, which Western capitals insist must drop to zero to rule out weaponization. Tehran maintains its program is strictly for civilian energy and research.
As deputy-level talks loom in Istanbul, global eyes will watch whether pragmatism can triumph over pressure, or if the snapback debate will expand Middle East volatility. For young global citizens, tech innovators or digital nomads scanning for the next big geopolitical shift, Friday\u0019s discussions could be a turning point.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
