Key points
- Diplomacy remains the best path: Kaja Kallas
- France, Germany, Britain and EU were all signatories of the 2015 agreement
ISLAMABAD: Foreign ministers from key European powers France, Germany and Britain and the European Union (EU)’s top diplomat are aiming to meet their Iranian counterpart for nuclear talks in Geneva on Friday, European diplomats said, the AFP reported.
The ministers will first meet with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, at Germany’s permanent mission in Geneva before holding a joint meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, a German diplomatic source told Reuters.
“We held a call with the Iranian Foreign Minister on Monday—alongside my French, British, and EU counterparts—and made a clear proposal.”
German foreign minister underlines European countries’ willingness to talk to Iran about a solution. pic.twitter.com/ogqnouXDMG
— euronews (@euronews) June 18, 2025
The European initiative comes amid fears of a spiralling conflict in the Middle East after Israel launched wide-ranging military strikes on its arch-enemy Iran last week and Iran sent waves of missiles at Israeli targets in response.
Structured dialogue
The aim of the talks between Iran and the Europeans, which the German source said are taking place in coordination with the United States, is to persuade the Iranian side to firmly guarantee that it will use its nuclear programme solely for civilian purposes, Reuters reported.
According to Al Jazeera, the meeting is being coordinated with the US. It is very clear that there is strong coordination between the US and these European foreign ministers in what could be another tranche of attempts to reach an end to this ongoing conflict via a negotiated means.
According to the source, Reuters reported the talks are to be followed by a structured dialogue at the expert level.
The meeting being planned comes as European countries call for de-escalation in the face of Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran’s nuclear programme, according to AFP.
Escalating conflict
US President Donald Trump has warned he is weighing military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities as Israel strikes the country and Tehran responds with missile fire.
Israel claims its air campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
France, Germany, Britain and the European Union were all signatories of the 2015 agreement with Iran, which was sunk by Trump during his first term in office.
Israel has the right to protect its security and people, in line with international law.
Iran must take decisive steps to return to negotiations and pave the way for a diplomatic solution.
Joint statement with E3 Foreign Affairs Ministers ↓https://t.co/Shfxvii2ml
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 18, 2025
The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has insisted that diplomacy remains the best path towards ensuring that Iran does not develop a nuclear bomb, the AFP reported.
