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Araghchi, top EU diplomat discuss Iran nuclear issue, West Asia
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a phone conversation with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discussed a range of issues including Iran’s nuclear program – the main source of tensions between Tehran and European powers in recent months.
According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Araghchi and Kallas emphasized the importance of continuing contacts and consultations between Tehran and the European parties regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran’s nuclear program has been a source of contention with Western countries for more than two decades. While Iran insists that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and aimed at civilian purposes such as energy production and medical research, Western powers — particularly the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany — have long expressed concern that Tehran could be seeking the capability to develop nuclear weapons.
Tensions have increased in recent months especially after the three European parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal – Germany, France and Britain – activated the so-called snapback mechanism embedded in the nuclear agreement on August 28, which led to the reimposition of international sanctions against Iran.
They accused Iran of not honoring its obligations under the nuclear deal from which the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018 and the European parties to the deal failed to fulfil their commitments.
Tehran has repeatedly said it was the United States and its European allies who undermined the 2015 nuclear deal by failing to honor their commitments not Iran.
Despite their illegal move to trigger the snapback mechanism, the European powers have repeatedly called for the resolution of the issue through diplomacy.
Germany: ‘We welcome negotiations’ with Iran
Germany’s envoy to the United Nations Ricklef Beutin in an interview with Al Arabiya said that Europe is ready to continue negotiations with Iran.
“We have been in contact with the Iranians for years. We have never seen sufficient measures from Iran during this time, and Iran has violated all of its commitments,” he claimed.
“For that reason, after repeated warnings, we activated the snapback mechanism. But this is not the end of diplomacy. That is why we remain ready to negotiate with Iran.”
“We welcome negotiations. The Iranians must change their position; there is no disagreement on this.”