Dubai (Reuters)-Iran’s Foreign Minister, Araqchi Abbas, and his colleagues from France, the United Kingdom and Germany agreed on Friday to resume negotiations next week on nuclear issues and sanctions, Iranian state media said.
The three European powers threatened to reactivate the United Nations sanctions against Iran under a snapback mechanism if Tehran does not return to negotiations on an agreement to contain its uranium enrichment program.
Germany Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed negotiations next week and warned Iran that sanctions would be in force unless the country reaches a verifiable and lasting deal to calm concerns about their nuclear ambitions. He reiterated that time is very short and that Iran needs to engage substantially.
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Iranian state media reported that Araqchi and the UK, France and Germany foreign ministers agreed during a telephone call that the deputy ministers of foreign relations would continue negotiations on Tuesday.
During the call, Araqchi “emphasized the legal and moral incompetence of these countries to resort to the Snapback and warned of the consequences of such action,” the Iranian media said.
The European trio, along with the US, claims that Iran is using the nuclear energy program to potentially develop the ability to manufacture weapons, violating the non -proliferation treaty. Iran states that it seeks only civil nuclear energy.
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The UN Nuclear Atomic International Energy Agency (AIEA) has stated that Iran is not even close to developing a nuclear bomb, and US National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, witnessed in March that intelligence authorities found no evidence that Iran is moving toward a nuclear weapon.
The Islamic Republic suspended nuclear negotiations with the US, which aimed to contain their enrichment program after the US and Israel bombed their nuclear facilities during a 12 -day war in June.
Since then, AIEA inspectors have not been able to access Iran’s nuclear facilities, although AEEA head Rafael Grossi stated that inspections remain essential.
