Above photo: Fred Merz/Bloomberg/Getty Images.
The UK, France, and Germany have recently threatened to reimpose sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Iran has agreed to hold nuclear talks with the UK, France, and Germany, an informed source told the semi-official Tasnim News Agency on 20 July.
“Tehran and the European troika have come to an agreement in principle on the resumption of the talks about Iran’s nuclear program, but the timing and location of the negotiations are under debate,” the Iranian source said.
“The decision as to which country will be hosting the upcoming talks has not been finalized yet,” the source added.
The report goes on to say that “Iran was considering a request from the EU3 about the resumption of talks on the nuclear issue and the removal of sanctions.”
Upcoming Iranian-European negotiations are expected to take place at the level of deputy foreign ministers.
The UK, France, and Germany recently threatened a reimposition of UN sanctions under the “snapback mechanism” of the 2015 nuclear deal, which western countries have continued to hold Iran to despite Washington’s withdrawal from the agreement in 2018.
Last week, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei vowed a “proportionate and appropriate response” to any reimposition of sanctions by the European signatories of the 2015 deal.
The Tasnim News Agency report comes as nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington remain stalled following the US-backed Israeli war on Iran last month.
Iranian media said earlier this month that Tehran was considering a US request for a resumption of talks.
Sources said at the time that Tehran may demand compensation for the war, which Washington joined directly with a bunker-buster attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
US President Donald Trump publicly said several times in recent weeks that talks are unnecessary, claiming Washington “obliterated” all of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
A new US intelligence assessment has concluded that only one of the three Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities targeted in last month’s US airstrikes was seriously damaged, casting doubt on Trump’s claims that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were completely destroyed.
A previous intelligence assessment noted that Iran’s nuclear program was only set back by months. Tehran has vowed to continue enriching uranium and building its nuclear program.
Ali Larijani, senior advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said on 18 July that nuclear negotiations with the US are “not a priority” and “should not be rushed.”
“Negotiation is a tactic. Let the leadership decide when it is necessary. If it isn’t, then there’s no need to use it,” he added. “There is no urgency for talks … They have waged a war against us; they must first explain why.”
“Any decision to engage in diplomacy rests solely with Imam Khamenei, who has not yet authorized negotiations,” Larijani went on to say.
Late last month, Israel threatened to resume the war against Iran if it attempted to move forward with its nuclear program.
Israel Hayom reported on Thursday evening that Israel and the US are considering “additional strikes” on Iran.
