DUBAI/PARIS: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Thursday he was ready to travel to Europe for talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, with France indicating European powers were also ready for dialogue if Tehran showed it was seriously engaged.
Iran is looking to build on the momentum of nuclear negotiations with the US that resume in Oman on Saturday and after talks with Russia and China earlier this week. Its reach out to the European powers – Germany, France and Britain – party to a 2015 nuclear deal suggests Tehran is keeping its options open.
Since Sept, Tehran and the three European powers or E3 have already held several rounds of talks over their ties and the nuclear issue. European diplomats had said they were seeking a new meeting with Iran, although that appeared on ice when Tehran began indirect talks with US President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this month.
“Iran’s relations with the E3 … have experienced ups and downs in recent history. Like it or not, they are currently down,” Araqchi wrote on X. “I once again propose diplomacy. After my recent consultations in Moscow & Beijing, I am ready to take the first step with visits to Paris, Berlin & London … The ball is now in the E3’s court.”
France’s foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said the E3 favoured dialogue, while adding “Iran must resolutely engage in this path”.
