Talks with Europe could break US–Iran deadlock
By Abolghassem Delfi
Former Iranian ambassador to France
For various reasons—perhaps because Europe had previously fallen short of its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA—Iran showed little eagerness to engage with the bloc. That was the case until recently, when, following the 12-day war imposed by Israel and the United States in June, negotiations with Washington were brought to a halt and the timeline for when and how these talks might resume remains unclear.
The Europeans had intended to back these negotiations in such a way as to pave the way for US–Iran dialogue. At a meeting in Istanbul between officials from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, representatives of the E3 (France, Germany, and the UK), and the European Union on July 25, it was stated that to avoid triggering “snapback” of UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic – a mechanism envisioned in the JCPOA – could be extended by six months on condition that Tehran fulfilled certain requirements.
One of those conditions was the launch of talks with the US and cooperation with the IAEA over access to information concerning 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, the fate of which became uncertain after the US-Israeli military aggression. To pile on the pressure, Europeans added that this step had to be taken before the end of August—less than a week away.
In response, Tehran informed the Europeans that neither morally nor legally could they resort to the snapback mechanism. Iran referred the issue to the UN Security Council and began making preparations to fight back should Europe move ahead with the mechanism. At the same time, efforts were under way to lean on Russia and China as counterweights to European actions.
Yet this strategy is not grounded in realities, even if Tehran can talk up its media efforts to prevent Europe’s move. Under the terms of the JCPOA, any signatory that claims another party has failed to uphold its obligations can resort to snapback, before mid-October 2025, when the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrined the nuclear deal, expires.
Page 3