Iran will hold nuclear talks with Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, days after threatening to reimpose UN sanctions if a deal is not reached by August 31. The talks aim to limit Iran’s nuclear program and persuade Tehran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The move comes after President Trump joined Israel in launching airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last month. Iranian officials downplayed the prospect of direct talks with the US, citing no plans to negotiate. However, European governments hope that the threat of sanctions will bring Iran to the negotiating table.
Iran remains committed to its nuclear program for peaceful purposes, but some officials view atomic weapons as a deterrent against perceived threats. The country has made significant progress in recent years, including producing highly enriched uranium near-bomb-grade levels, which could eventually produce up to 10 nuclear weapons.
The European threat of reapplying sanctions is significant, even if the US is not involved. Experts warn that reinstatement would lead to severe economic pressure and an increasingly precarious security situation, potentially prompting Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-talks-europe.html