E3 Powers and Iran Set for Crucial Nuclear Talks as Snapback Deadline Looms

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – Iran and the European powers known as the E3–Britain, France, and Germany–have agreed in principle to resume negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program in the coming week, amid mounting international pressure and a looming deadline that could trigger a full reinstatement of United Nations sanctions.

The renewed diplomatic push follows stern warnings from the E3 that failure to return to talks could lead to the activation of the so-called “snapback” mechanism, a provision of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that allows for automatic reimposition of sanctions should Iran fail to comply with nuclear restrictions.

“The principle of talks has been agreed upon, but consultations are continuing on the time and place,” reported Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency on Sunday, citing an unnamed source. A German diplomatic official confirmed to AFP and Newsweek that contacts are underway to finalize the meeting details, with the goal of convening talks “in the coming week.”

The diplomatic flurry comes just days after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a joint call with his British, French, and German counterparts, as well as European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The E3 reportedly warned Iran that if it does not return to negotiations immediately, they would move to restore sanctions lifted under the JCPOA.

Iran’s parliament, however, struck a more defiant tone last week, stating that negotiations with the United States would not resume unless Washington meets certain preconditions. “When the U.S. uses negotiations as a tool for fraud against Iran and to cover up an Israeli surprise military strike, negotiations as they had been, cannot resume,” the statement read, without elaborating on specific demands. Araghchi has since indicated Iran would seek firm assurances against future military attacks before committing to further talks.

The diplomatic landscape shifted dramatically last month when Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” a 12-day military campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. The United States joined the operation, conducting what it called the largest B-2 stealth bomber strike in history, destroying three major nuclear sites at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. President Donald Trump later told reporters, “They would like to talk. I’m in no rush to talk because we obliterated their site.”

Despite Tehran’s insistence that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, the recent escalation has reignited global concerns over potential weapons development. Germany’s foreign ministry reiterated its position Sunday, saying, “Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. That is why we continue to work intensively in the E3 format to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution.”

The urgency of the renewed talks is driven in part by the JCPOA’s expiration set for October and the approaching end-of-summer deadline agreed upon by Washington and the E3. If no progress is made by then, the snapback mechanism will be triggered, reactivating all prior U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran.

Talks had been ongoing earlier this year through Omani mediation between Washington and Tehran, but were abruptly halted following Israel’s military action. With a narrow window for diplomacy now reopening, the international community is watching closely to see whether this round of negotiations can salvage what remains of the 2015 nuclear agreement–or set the stage for a renewed phase of confrontation.

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