A crucial meeting is set for Friday in Istanbul between Iran and European countries – the UK, France, and Germany – to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. Western nations are ramping up pressure on Tehran to reach an agreement or face new, harsh sanctions. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that talks will be held at the deputy foreign ministers’ level, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged European powers to stop threats, including warnings about reimposing UN sanctions.
Western countries have made it clear that if a nuclear deal is not reached by the end of August, they will activate the UN’s automatic sanctions snapback mechanism against Iran. This mechanism could reinstate sanctions lifted a decade ago, covering arms sales, banking, and technology related to nuclear resources.
Following US-Israeli bombings of its nuclear sites last month, Iran halted cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). European governments are pushing for UN inspectors to continue their work in Iran to prevent Tehran from reorganizing its nuclear program after the damage caused by the attacks.
Although China and Russia, longtime Iranian allies, cannot veto the reimposition of sanctions, the formal deadline to activate the snapback is in October. However, European countries might delay this move to keep the door open for further talks.
US and Iranian negotiators were supposed to meet in Oslo earlier this month, but the meeting was postponed with no new date set. Both sides claim to support diplomacy, but Iran demands guarantees against future attacks, while US President Donald Trump warns of further strikes if Iran continues high-level uranium enrichment.
This is a high-stakes diplomatic rollercoaster, leaving the world wondering – will talks bring peace, or will sanctions keep squeezing Tehran? What do you think? Is this just another show, or will something actually change? Drop your thoughts and let’s see who’s team diplomacy and who’s team sanctions!
