Second Round of Nuclear Talks Between Iran and E3 Group Begins in Istanbul

Kokcha News Agency: The second round of nuclear talks between Iran and the E3 group—comprising the UK, France, and Germany—has begun in Istanbul. The closed-door meetings are being held at the Iranian Consulate General in Istanbul, with Iran represented by Deputy Foreign Ministers Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi.

These talks come at the request of the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The E3 group, which represents the European signatories to the deal, had previously met with Iranian officials on May 16 in Istanbul at the deputy foreign minister level.

The discussions aim to address Iran’s nuclear activities and the future of the JCPOA, which has been under strain since the U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018. The parties have agreed to continue parallel talks with the ongoing indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S.

Israel’s Attack Disrupts the Process

The negotiation process was disrupted when Israel launched an attack on Iran on June 13, leading to a suspension of talks between Iran, the U.S., and European countries. Iran is particularly concerned about the potential activation of the “snapback” mechanism by European countries, which could reinstate United Nations (UN) sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 deal.

The snapback mechanism, which allows for the reimposition of sanctions if Iran is found to be in violation of the JCPOA, is set to expire on October 18. If no resolution is reached regarding Iran’s nuclear program, European countries may activate the mechanism before this deadline.

The JCPOA, signed in 2015, aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. However, the U.S. withdrawal from the deal in 2018 under the Trump administration led to a breakdown in negotiations and the reimposition of sanctions on Iran. Since then, Iran has gradually increased its nuclear activities, raising concerns among the remaining signatories to the deal.

The current talks in Istanbul are seen as a critical step in reviving the JCPOA and addressing the ongoing tensions between Iran and the international community over its nuclear program.