Iran, Europe hold nuclear talks amid escalating tensions

Geneva is set to host critical nuclear talks between Iran and European powers—Britain, France, and Germany—on Friday, less than two months before Donald Trump resumes office as U.S. president.

With tensions in the Middle East at a boiling point and allegations of Iran’s military involvement in Ukraine casting a shadow, the outcome of these discreet negotiations could shape regional stability and global diplomacy.

Takht-Ravanchi, political deputy to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The discussions follow a September meeting in New York and come after preliminary talks with Enrique Mora, deputy secretary general of the European Union’s foreign affairs arm.

Mora revealed on X that the discussions touched on critical issues: “Iran’s military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions… and human rights.”

Responding on Friday, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that he and Takht-Ravanchi urged the EU to “abandon its self-centered and irresponsible behaviour,” referencing Western positions on Ukraine and Iran’s nuclear program.

Gharibabadi also criticized the EU’s “complicit behaviour towards the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” challenging its moral authority to lecture on human rights.

Middle East tensions heighten

Friday’s talks take place amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel. This week, a fragile ceasefire was established in Lebanon following a year of conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Thursday that Israel would do “everything” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu’s comments come after Iranian officials, including Araghchi, warned that Tehran could end its self-imposed ban on nuclear weapons development if Western sanctions are reinstated.

While Israel remains the only undeclared nuclear-armed state in the region, it views Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a direct threat to its security.

IAEA condemnation, Iran’s defiance

Friday’s negotiations are overshadowed by a recent censure of Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), backed by the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany.

The resolution criticized Iran’s lack of cooperation on nuclear issues, prompting Tehran to launch “new advanced centrifuges” to increase its enriched uranium stockpile.Related News

Iran dismissed the IAEA’s resolution as “politically motivated” but signaled a willingness to engage with diplomatic counterparts ahead of Trump’s return to office.

Despite denying any ambition to develop nuclear weapons, Iran continues to enrich uranium to 60 percent—far above the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal.

In a Thursday interview with The Guardian, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s stance: “We have no intention to go further than 60 percent for the time being, and this is our determination right now.”

However, he acknowledged internal debates on whether to alter Iran’s nuclear policy, suggesting frustration over unmet Western commitments like sanction relief.

“There is this debate going on in Iran, and mostly among the elites… whether we should change our nuclear doctrine, as so far it has proven to be insufficient in practice,” Araghchi said.

Navigating a ‘double disaster’

Political analyst Mostafa Shirmohammadi warned that Tehran faces a potential “double disaster”—renewed pressure from both Trump and European governments.

Iran’s support in Europe has waned amid accusations of supplying Russia with drones for its war in Ukraine, which Tehran denies.

To avert this scenario, Iran is seeking to repair relations with Europe while maintaining a firm stance on its rights and sovereignty.

The stakes for Friday’s meeting could not be higher, as Iran navigates a complex web of geopolitical challenges in the months ahead.

Despite international scrutiny, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has maintained a religious decree prohibiting the development of atomic weapons.

For now, Tehran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, even as diplomatic tensions continue to escalate.

AFP