Iran and European powers met in Geneva on Monday for secret talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, a week before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The huddle marks the second meeting in less than two months, following a previous discreet gathering between Tehran and E3 – Britain, France and Germany – in Geneva last November.
Despite the importance of the talks, officials maintained strict secrecy, withholding details about the agenda or even the location of the talks.
The German Foreign Ministry said that these are not negotiations. AFP. Iran has similarly emphasized that the talks are merely “consultations”.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Ismail Baqaei said during the weekly press briefing that the talks on Monday and Tuesday would cover “a wide range of topics”.
“The main objective of these talks is to lift sanctions on Iran,” he said, adding that Iran is also “listening.” […] The topics that the opposing sides want to raise.”
On Thursday, France’s foreign ministry said the meeting was a sign that the E3 countries were “continuing to work towards a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear program, which progress is extremely difficult”.
The talks come amid renewed focus on Iran’s nuclear program in light of Trump’s return to the White House on January 20.
During his first term, Trump pursued a policy of “maximum pressure,” pulling the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal that imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions.
Tehran held on to the deal until Washington withdrew, but then began to withdraw its commitments.
Efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have since failed, and European officials have repeatedly expressed frustration at Tehran’s non-compliance.
‘Breaking Point’
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said the acceleration in Iran’s nuclear program was “bringing us very close to the breaking point”. Iran later called the comments “baseless” and “deceptive”.
In December, Britain, Germany and France accused Tehran of expanding its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to “unprecedented levels” without “any credible civilian justification”.
“We reiterate our commitment to use all diplomatic tools, including the use of snapbacks if necessary, to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” he added.
The snapback mechanism – part of the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – allows signatories to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran in the event of “significant non-performance” of commitments. .
The mandate to mobilize the mechanism expires in October this year, prompting an immediate escalation of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog says Iran has ramped up its production of enriched uranium, making it the only non-nuclear-weapon state with up to 60 percent enriched uranium.
This level is on the way to 90% of the level required for an atomic bomb.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes and denies any intention to develop nuclear weapons.
He has repeatedly expressed his willingness to restore the agreement.
President Masoud Pizshakyan, who took office in July, has supported restoring the accord and called for an end to his country’s isolation.
In a recent interview with China’s CCTV, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also expressed his willingness to “engage in constructive dialogue.”
“The formula we believe in is the same as the previous JCPOA formula, which is to build confidence in Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions,” he added.