Friday’s talks between Iran and European powers made no progress, Axios and the Wall Street Journal reported, as a deadline looms for the reimposition of UN sanctions on Tehran under the so-called snapback mechanism.
The E3 have warned Iran they would restore UN sanctions by the end of August unless it reopened talks on its nuclear program immediately and produced concrete results before the deadline.
Iran is set to resume its nuclear talks with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (the E3) on August 26, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday following a phone call with his British, French, and German counterparts as well as the EU foreign policy chief.
Despite the planned meeting, the Wall Street Journal correspondent Laurence Norman and Axios's Barak Ravid said the talks did not make any progress.
"The Iranian foreign minister didn't come with any new proposal or idea on addressing concerns regarding the nuclear program," Axios reported citing an informed source.
The Axios report said the call started "in a confrontational tone with the Iranian foreign minister ranting about whether E3 have the right to trigger snapback."
“After E3 pushback, Araghchi expressed some openness to an extension of the snapback but stressed this is for the United Nations Security Council to decide, not for Iran,” the report said citing an unnamed source.
On Friday, Iran's top security official rejected the European proposal for the extension of the August deadline, saying, "Some countries have requested a six-month extension [of snapback deadline], but Iran does not agree."
"We had an agreement that was supposed to be completed within 10 years; it's not meant to be extended repeatedly. This is just rule-twisting, and we do not accept it," Ali Larijani said in an interview with the Supreme Leader's website.
The “snapback” or “trigger mechanism” is part of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Under Resolution 2231, any party to the accord can file a complaint accusing Iran of non-compliance. If no agreement is reached within 30 days to maintain sanctions relief, all previous UN sanctions automatically “snap back,” including arms embargoes, cargo inspections, and missile restrictions.
Russia’s representative to international organizations in Vienna criticized the E3’s position on X, saying they should consider the consequences of the policy they are pursuing.
No interest in talks with US
Shortly after the call with Araghchi, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed that Iran's engagement with the United States and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are crucial.
However, Araghchi showed no willingness or intent to engage in further conversations with Washington, according to Axios.
“The Iranian foreign minister didn’t express willingness to resume talks with the United States and claimed it is the US that isn’t interested in negotiations,” Ravid reported.
Larijani echoed that position on Friday, saying the United States must first show genuine intent.
“Genuine negotiation takes place when the other side understands that war is useless, that Iran will not surrender under pressure, and that Iranians are not the kind to give in,” Larijani said.
Massimo Aparo, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Safeguards Department, visited Iran on August 11, but no framework for inspections has yet been announced.
“Araghchi claimed Iran is cooperating with the IAEA and gave no indication that Iran might allow access to UN inspectors,” Ravid said.
According to Axios, the Iranian foreign minister also gave no information about the whereabouts of Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, insisting that they are hidden under rubble and inaccessible.