TEHRAN: Iran’s deputy foreign minister and top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri, revealed on Tuesday that he held talks with diplomats from Germany, France, and Britain in Abu Dhabi, discussing various issues, including Iran’s atomic energy program.
Bagheri announced the diplomatic consultations on Twitter, stating that the meeting took place after engaging with regional and extra-regional parties.
در ادامه رایزنیهای دیپلماتیک با طرفهای منطقهای و فرامنطقهای، با همتایان آلمانی، فرانسوی و انگلیسی خود در ابوظبی ملاقات کرده و در مورد طیفی از موضوعات و نگرانیهای متقابل با هم گفتگو نمودیم.
— علی باقریکنی (@Bagheri_Kani) June 13, 2023
The German foreign ministry confirmed the meeting, which occurred on Monday, emphasizing that discussions focused on Iran’s nuclear program. Bagheri’s visit to Abu Dhabi also aimed to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation and address regional matters.
Iran’s nuclear program has been a subject of scrutiny by Western powers, leading to economic sanctions that have impacted the country’s economy. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, provided Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for limitations on its nuclear program, ensuring it could not develop nuclear weapons, a claim Iran has consistently denied.
Iran Nuclear Deal
However, the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, along with the subsequent reimposition of harsh economic sanctions, prompted Iran to gradually reduce its compliance with the agreement.
Efforts to revive the deal through negotiations involving France, Germany, Britain, Russia, and China, with indirect involvement from the United States, have faced challenges and experienced periods of stalled progress in recent months.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani stated on Monday that the country continued indirect negotiations with the United States regarding the nuclear issue. Additionally, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated Iran’s position of not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and expressed openness to potential agreements in specific nuclear fields.
During a phone call with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the commitment of France and its European partners to finding a “diplomatic solution” to Iran’s nuclear issue.
