Iran and European powers convened in Geneva on Monday for confidential discussions about Tehran’s nuclear programme, just days before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. This marks the second such meeting in under two months, following a similar event in November 2024, involving the E3—Britain, France, and Germany.
The talks, while significant, have been kept under wraps, with no details about the agenda or meeting location revealed. Both sides have stressed that these are not formal negotiations, with Iran referring to them as “consultations.”
The discussions, scheduled to last two days, are expected to cover a range of topics. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the primary goal of the talks is to address the removal of sanctions. He also mentioned that Iran would listen to the concerns raised by the other parties involved.
French authorities described the meeting as evidence that the E3 nations are committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the challenges posed by Iran’s nuclear programme, which remains a contentious issue. The timing of the talks is critical, as President-elect Trump is set to assume office on January 20. During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, which had lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear activities. In response to the U.S. exit, Iran began scaling back its commitments under the agreement.
With the U.S. return to the White House imminent, the focus on Iran’s nuclear programme has intensified. French President Emmanuel Macron recently warned that Iran’s accelerating nuclear activities bring the situation to a “breaking point,” a comment that Tehran dismissed as “baseless.” The U.K., France, and Germany have also expressed concerns about Iran’s expanding stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which has reached unprecedented levels without clear civilian justification.
The snapback mechanism in the 2015 deal allows signatories to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran if it fails to meet its commitments. This option is set to expire in October, creating urgency for diplomatic efforts. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Iran has enriched uranium to a level of 60%, approaching the 90% required for nuclear weapons. However, Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and has expressed a willingness to revive the deal.
Iran’s leadership, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have reiterated their desire to restore the agreement, emphasizing the need to build trust and lift sanctions.
