Iranian negotiators met with representatives from Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, according to a diplomatic source, as hopes grow for a revival of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The meeting comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump said a new nuclear deal with Tehran was “getting close.”
The discussions follow warnings from Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about “irreversible” consequences if European powers move to reinstate United Nations sanctions that were lifted under the original deal.
According to AFP, the confidential talks were expected to conclude by 10:00 GMT. When asked if negotiations might continue into Saturday, the source replied, “No.”
The three European nations—collectively known as the E3—were original signatories of the 2015 deal alongside China, Russia, and the U.S. However, the agreement faltered after Trump withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran’s financial and oil sectors. In response, Iran scaled back its compliance with the deal, which had exchanged sanctions relief for strict UN oversight of its nuclear activities.
The E3 is now considering triggering the “snapback” mechanism, which would automatically reinstate UN sanctions over Iran’s alleged non-compliance. That option, however, expires in October. Araghchi has warned that such a move could spark a global nuclear crisis and primarily endanger Europe. Despite this, he expressed Tehran’s willingness to reset relations with Europe, writing in the French publication Le Point.
Friday’s session follows a fourth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. in Oman last week. Iran described those discussions as “difficult but useful,” while a U.S. official called them “encouraging.”
Araghchi confirmed the Istanbul meeting was being held at the deputy foreign minister level and emphasized that talks with the U.S. and the Europeans were proceeding separately.
‘Getting Close’ to a Deal
China, which recently held its own nuclear discussions with Iran, reiterated its support for a diplomatic resolution and reaffirmed its respect for Iran’s peaceful use of nuclear energy. It also voiced opposition to all forms of unilateral sanctions.
During a visit to Qatar on Thursday, President Trump stated the U.S. was “getting close” to a new deal with Iran that would avoid military conflict. “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” he said.
Axios reported that Washington had delivered a written proposal to Tehran during the last round of talks. However, Araghchi denied receiving any document, though he expressed Iran’s readiness to increase transparency in exchange for lifting sanctions.
Trump claimed to have offered Iran an “olive branch,” warning that the offer wouldn’t be available indefinitely. He also threatened further sanctions, including reducing Iran’s oil exports to zero, if talks collapse.
Iran currently enriches uranium to 60% purity—well above the 3.67% limit set in the 2015 deal but still below the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists its enrichment program is peaceful and non-negotiable but has signaled openness to temporary restrictions.
On Wednesday, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, reiterated Iran’s opposition to nuclear weapons, stressing that enrichment remains under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog. “The dismantling of enrichment is not accepted by Iran,” he said.
