Europeans aim to continue talks with Iran
The foreign ministers of Germany, France and the United Kingdom have drawn a positive conclusion from their meeting with their Iranian counterpart.
Geneva (dpa) – Following over four hours of talks with their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, the foreign ministers of Germany, France and the United Kingdom have concluded that further discussions with Tehran on a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear dispute are worthwhile. “The positive outcome today is that we’re leaving the room with the sense that the Iranian side is, in principle, willing to continue engaging on all key issues,” said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul after the meeting in Geneva.
“We support the continuation of talks with the three European countries and the European Union, and are ready to hold another meeting in the near future,” said Araghchi, according to the state news agency IRNA. However, he stressed: “As long as Israeli attacks continue, we will not negotiate with any party.”
One week after the outbreak of war, Wadephul, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy made their first attempt to explore with Araghchi the prospects for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear conflict. Against the backdrop of intense mutual strikes between Israel and Iran, the senior European diplomats gathered in Switzerland to assess whether Iran might be willing to shift its stance on its nuclear programme and renounce nuclear weapons.
Wadephul described the discussions as very serious. “The entire region is in an extremely critical situation, and our shared goal is to prevent further escalation and make progress through negotiations.”