Talks with Europe ...
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At present, the US has shown little appetite for talks, and with Washington dragging its feet, dialogue with Europe could prove useful. Re-establishing contact with Europeans would be constructive, and the upcoming talks in Vienna on August 26, represent a positive step.
Equally, receiving the IAEA’s deputy director general in Tehran on August 11 was another constructive gesture. Although no access was granted, discussions did take place, potentially laying the groundwork for future cooperation between Iran and the agency.
In the parliamentary resolution passed after the 12-day war to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, a clause left the final outcome subject to the Supreme National Security Council’s decision. This means that Iran can still maintain a form of cooperation with the agency—striking a balance between the parliamentary resolution and the need to ease international pressure stemming from the snapback threat.
The very fact that Tehran has already taken steps before the Europeans’ deadline could serve as a foothold to address further issues. But when it comes to ensuring that Europe will not go through with snapback or abandon it entirely, expectations should remain cautious; these negotiations alone may not be enough to settle the matter.
In the past two weeks, US President Donald Trump has been deeply preoccupied with the future of the Ukraine–Russia war, effectively pushing Iran off his radar. In this sense, renewed talks with Europe might offer an opening to bring the issue back onto the diplomatic agenda.