Iran has agreed to resume nuclear negotiations with the European trio – Germany, France, and the United Kingdom – in a diplomatic effort to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The new round of talks is scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Friday, July 25, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, speaking on Iranian state television, stated that “the meeting will take place at the request of the European countries,” emphasizing Tehran’s openness to “constructive dialogue, provided its sovereignty and nuclear achievements are respected.”
The JCPOA, originally signed in 2015, imposed strict limitations on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the agreement effectively collapsed in 2018 when the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew the United States from the pact, leading to escalated tensions in the region.
This latest development comes at a particularly sensitive time. Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility – a key and heavily fortified site – recently suffered significant damage from airstrikes, which Tehran attributes to Israel. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also raised concerns over Iran’s lack of transparency and growing stockpiles of enriched uranium.
The European Union, while not a direct signatory to the E3+3 framework, has played a mediating role and is advocating for the full restoration of diplomatic channels and non-proliferation commitments.
Analysts see the choice of Istanbul as a strategic one, reflecting Turkey’s desire to mediate and reassert regional influence, especially as traditional negotiation venues like Vienna remain politically stalled.
The outcome of Friday’s meeting could prove pivotal for the future of non-proliferation efforts in the Middle East and the restoration of multilateral diplomacy.
