Iranian and European diplomats met in Istanbul on Friday in a new effort to find a way out of the impasse over Tehran's nuclear program.
Representatives from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3 countries, gathered at the Iranian consulate for the first talks since the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June, during which US bombers struck nuclear-related targets.
The talks, which lasted four hours, focused on the possibility of restoring sanctions on Iran that were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Iran agreeing to limits and monitoring of its nuclear program.
The return of sanctions, known as the “snapback” mechanism, “remains relevant,” the European diplomat said.
“Iran has been offered a possible delay in the launch of a sharp rollback on the condition that it demonstrates credible diplomatic efforts, resumes full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and addresses issues related to its stockpile of highly enriched uranium,” the diplomat said.
European leaders have said sanctions will be reimposed by the end of August unless progress is made in curbing Iran's nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, Tehran has said the United States, which withdrew from the 2015 deal during President Donald Trump's first term, must restore confidence in its role in the talks.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran's participation was dependent on “several key principles,” including “restoring Iran's trust, because Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States.”
In a social media post on Thursday, he also stressed that the talks should not be used “as a platform for hidden plans such as military action.”
He added that Iran's right to enrich uranium “in accordance with its legitimate needs” must be respected and sanctions lifted.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which obliges it to refrain from developing nuclear weapons, if sanctions are reimposed.
Mr Gharibabadi described Friday's talks as “serious, frank and detailed”.
According to him, the parties discussed the lifting of sanctions and the mechanism for the immediate return of sanctions, and also agreed on further negotiations.
“Both sides came to the meeting with specific proposals,” he noted. “It was decided that consultations on this issue will continue.”
Friday's talks were held at the deputy ministerial level. Iran sent Mr. Gharibabadi and Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e-R
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
