GENEVA: European foreign ministers will meet Iran’s top negotiator on Friday in a last-ditch effort to revive stalled nuclear diplomacy, even as the United States weighs joining Israeli military strikes against Tehran.
In a rare joint appeal earlier this week, Britain, France, and Germany—collectively known as the E3—alongside the European Union’s foreign policy chief, urged Iranian envoy Abbas Araqchi to pursue de-escalation. The conversation led to an agreement for in-person talks, requested by Iran, to be held in Geneva.
The diplomatic outreach comes as tensions in the Middle East spiral following Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, an unprecedented wave of strikes launched on June 12 against Iran’s nuclear and ballistic infrastructure. Iran has since retaliated, raising fears of a wider regional war.
“The Iranians can’t sit down with the Americans whereas we can,” a European diplomat noted. “Our message is simple: return to the table before the worst-case scenario unfolds.”
Geneva, symbolic as the birthplace of the initial 2013 accord between Iran and global powers, now hosts this critical meeting under the looming threat of conflict. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, has been severely eroded following U.S. withdrawal and recent hostilities.
While expectations for a breakthrough remain low, European diplomats emphasize the urgency of engagement. “The war will end at some point,” one said. “But Iran’s nuclear knowledge can’t be bombed away. The threat will persist unless diplomacy resumes.”
Iranian officials echoed the call for talks but accused the West of failing to rein in Israel. “Iran remains committed to diplomacy as the only path to resolving disputes—but diplomacy is under attack,” said an Iranian official, urging the E3 to press Israel to halt its strikes.
Meanwhile, international pressure on Iran continues to mount. Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors passed a resolution accusing Iran of violating its non-proliferation obligations. European powers have hinted at referring Iran to the UN Security Council if progress stalls further.
With the 2015 nuclear deal set to expire in October, European nations are also considering triggering the “snapback” mechanism—reimposing UN sanctions. Diplomats say the E3 may launch this process by the end of August if diplomacy fails to yield results.
Iran has warned against such a move, calling it a provocation with “serious consequences.”
