The head of Iranian diplomacy, Abbas Araghchi, reported on Tuesday a “serious” desire from Germany, France and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations on the controversial Iranian nuclear program, at the end of talks in Geneva.
“The discussions with the three European countries aim to explore ways to resume nuclear negotiations,” Araghchi said in an interview on state television.
The discussions were “positive and we felt the seriousness (…) and the desire (of the European parties) for a negotiated solution,” he added. But “we do not know if the new American administration intends to resume negotiations”.
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Iranian officials held discussions on Monday and Tuesday in Geneva, in an undisclosed location, with German, British and French representatives, described as “frank and constructive” by both camps.
They were held in the run-up to the return to the White House on January 20 of US President Donald Trump, who pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” towards Iran during his first term.
According to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, the discussions focused in particular on the lifting of sanctions imposed on his country.
Deputy Secretary General and Political Director of the European External Action Service, Enrique Mora, speaks to the media in front of the “Grand Hotel Vienna” where the nuclear negotiations are taking place behind closed doors, in Vienna, Austria, June 20, 2021 (Credit: Florian Schroetter/AP)
On Tuesday, the number two in European diplomacy, Enrique Mora, reported a “constructive meeting” with Iranian officials, specifying that the discussions had focused on “Iran’s unacceptable military support for Russia”.
Ukraine and its allies in many Western capitals have accused Tehran of supplying Moscow with weapons for the war in Ukraine, something Iran denies.
“We are ready to discuss this issue to address the concerns of the Europeans,” declared Mr. Araghchi, judging that the latter had “no valid reason to be concerned”.
The meeting in Geneva was the second in less than two months.
Tensions around Iran’s nuclear program, which Westerners suspect of having military aims despite Iranian denials, have skyrocketed under the presidency of Donald Trump, with the American withdrawal from the 2015 agreement which offered Tehran relief. sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear ambitions.
After Washington’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018, Iran began to renege on its commitments. All attempts to revive the agreement have failed in recent years.
Since the new reformist Iranian president, Massoud Pezeshkian, took office in August, Tehran has expressed its wish to relaunch negotiations to revive the agreement.
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