Iran has confirmed it will continue its nuclear talks with European powers following what it described as serious, candid, and in-depth discussions yesterday. This meeting marked the first direct engagement with Western powers since the Israeli and American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last month.
### Stance on UN Resolution
Prior to the meeting, Iran opposed proposals for extending a United Nations resolution that endorses the 2015 nuclear agreement. This resolution, which aims to limit Iran’s nuclear program, is nearing its expiration date.
### Meeting Details
Delegations from Iran, the European Union, and the so-called Troika—which includes France, Britain, and Germany—met for about four hours at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted this could provide an opportunity to resume inspections. Following the discussions, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi stated that both sides had presented specific ideas regarding sanctions relief and the nuclear issue.
### Positions and Continued Negotiations
Gharib Abadi emphasized their strong criticism of the recent positions regarding the war affecting the Iranian populace, highlighting their principled stances, including their position on the mechanism for re-imposing sanctions. He confirmed that they agreed to continue consultations and described the talks with the three European nations as constructive.
### Iranian Foreign Ministry Remarks
Before the negotiations began, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqaei indicated that Tehran found discussions about extending UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to be baseless and meaningless.
### Optimism from IAEA Director
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed optimism yesterday that agency inspectors would return to Iran later this year. Grossi stated it is critical to start discussions on resuming visits to Iran, emphasizing the need to agree on the sites to be visited and how these visits will be conducted. He mentioned that Iran had indicated readiness to resume some technical discussions regarding its nuclear program.
### Conclusion of Talks
Meanwhile, Iranian sources reported that the discussions between Iran and the European Troika at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul concluded without significant outcomes. Gharib Abadi conveyed that the serious and detailed meeting focused primarily on nuclear matters and the sanctions situation, with an agreement to pursue further discussions. Additionally, it was reported by the Iranian news agency IRNA that a visit by the IAEA Deputy Director General to Tehran is planned in the coming weeks to explore the framework for cooperation between the two sides.