Iran delegation to hold nuclear talks with E3

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will hold nuclear talks with France, UK, and Germany in Rome.

Over the past month, Iran has held bilateral nuclear talks with the Trump administration following the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. As the Europeans have become sidelined in said negotiations, Araqchi will privately meet with the E3 of France, UK, and Germany before his bilateral meeting with the US tomorrow. While Araqchi has emphasized how Iran-E3 relations are currently down, he has also actively criticized the E3 for their ‘wrong policies.‘ On the other hand, since the E3 remain signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal, the European delegations have become increasingly concerned about the impending expiration of the agreement. If a deal is not reached, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has threatened a snapback of UN sanctions on Iran once the agreement expires.

Given Araqchi’s perceived hostility from the Europeans, a resolution to the question of sanctions or any formal agreement being reached today remains unlikely. Instead, Araqchi hopes to address the weakened bilateral ties to restore trust with the Europeans. However, the Europeans remain cautious of creating a parallel track to the US negotiations and potentially hijacking the Trump administration’s agenda. Meanwhile, although the Trump administration remains confident in reaching an agreement, Iran’s extreme caution suggests an agreement may still be unlikely. Nonetheless, should tomorrow’s negotiations with the US stall, the E3 could mediate nuclear talks going forward if Araqchi can find common ground with his European counterparts.