International powers preparations for forthcoming nuclear negotiations with Iran, confirmed by a German diplomatic insider
The nuclear negotiations between Iran and the E3 (Germany, France, and the United Kingdom) have resumed after a hiatus, but progress remains elusive. The discussions, which took place in Istanbul on July 25, 2025, marked the first formal talks since the June conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a call with his British, French, German counterparts, and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday. The talks were described by Iran as "serious, frank, and detailed," yet no breakthrough was achieved, and both sides agreed to continue consultations.
The current negotiations are aimed at finding a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear program. However, the E3 has expressed a desire for a "more comprehensive agreement" that includes limits on Iran’s ballistic missile program and Iran’s regional destabilizing activities, which Iran rejects, particularly concerning its missile program, viewing it as integral to its defense.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a deal between Iran and world powers that placed restrictions on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, plays a significant role in the current negotiations. The 2015 JCPOA deal began to unravel in 2018 when the United States withdrew from the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. The snapback mechanism, which would reimpose sanctions lifted under the JCPOA, is a point of contention in the ongoing discussions.
The E3 has threatened to trigger the JCPOA snapback mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions if Iran fails to make progress by the end of August 2025. Iranian officials have privately warned that they may withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the E3 triggers the snapback sanctions, which would escalate tensions and pose a serious risk to nonproliferation efforts.
As the deadline for progress approaches, the threat of reimposed UN sanctions remains a significant pressure point. If a solution is not reached over the summer, the E3 may activate the "snapback" mechanism to reimpose sanctions, further complicating the already delicate nuclear standoff.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025). Iran nuclear talks resume in Istanbul. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-59176811
[2] Reuters. (2025). Iran, E3 in talks over nuclear deal, but deadlocked on missiles. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-e3-talks-nuclear-deal-deadlocked-missiles-2025-07-25/
[3] Al Jazeera. (2025). Iran warns of NPT withdrawal if E3 activates snapback sanctions. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/26/iran-warns-of-npt-withdrawal-if-e3-activates-snapback-sanctions
Policy and legislation are at the heart of the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Iran and the E3, as both sides aim to shape policy regarding Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile program, and regional activities. The discussions surrounding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the threat of reimposed UN sanctions have general-news value, with tensions escalating as the deadline for progress approaches.
