Iran to Engage in Nuclear Discussions with European Powers

On July 21, 2025, Iran's foreign ministry announced that high-level nuclear talks with European powers France, Germany, and Britain are set to take place on Friday in Istanbul. This development comes just days after these nations signaled their intent to reimpose sanctions on Tehran unless notable progress is made towards a new agreement aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear activities. Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for the foreign ministry, stated that Iran is committed to entering negotiations soon.

The three European nations are still part of the 2015 nuclear deal, initially brokered during the Obama administration but abandoned by the Trump administration. In a warning last week, France, Germany, and Britain indicated they would reinstate United Nations sanctions against Iran by the end of August if no improvements were observed in the pursuit of a revised nuclear deal. Their strategy aims to bolster efforts to curtail or entirely halt Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities.

Moreover, these countries are pressuring Iran to resume its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors nuclear activities. Tehran halted dialogue with the IAEA this past June following airstrikes on its nuclear sites by Israel and the United States. Since these incidents, Iran and the U.S. haven't made any headway on revitalizing nuclear discussions, leaving many observers wary of the situation's escalation.

The upcoming talks could be crucial in shaping the future of nuclear negotiations between Iran and these powerful European nations.

Amelia Nierenberg covers international news from London.