In a significant development amid strained international relations, Iran has firmly rejected any suggestions for extending a United Nations resolution linked to its 2015 nuclear agreement. This announcement comes as the nation engaged in face-to-face diplomatic discussions with Western powers for the first time since recent Israeli and US airstrikes targeted its nuclear facilities last month.
Delegations from Iran alongside representatives from the European Union and the E3 group, comprising France, Britain, and Germany, gathered at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, highlighting the urgency surrounding ongoing talks. The discussions are crucial as the deadline of 18 October rapidly approaches, when the UN resolution governing the nuclear deal is set to expire, lifting all UN sanctions imposed on Iran unless a “snapback” mechanism is activated within the stipulated time frame.
This “snapback” mechanism would automatically reinstate sanctions across various sectors, including hydrocarbons, banking, and defence, should a consensus be reached at least 30 days prior to the deadline. In light of this, the E3 has established a timeframe until the end of August to encourage Iran to revitalise diplomatic efforts and reassure international partners of its commitments regarding the nuclear agreement.
Several key issues are paramount for negotiations, as diplomats urge Iran to take definitive actions. These actions include initiating potential discussions with the United States, achieving full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and clarifying the status of approximately 400kg of highly enriched uranium, which has become a point of contention since the recent military strikes.
Minutes before the crucial talks commenced, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei expressed Iran’s stance to the state news agency IRNA, declaring that discussions aimed at extending UN Security Council Resolution 2231 are “meaningless and baseless”. This dismissal underlines Iran’s steadfast refusal to acknowledge any amendments to the existing agreement.
The backdrop of these talks is marked by a complex history where the United States had previously engaged in five rounds of negotiations with Iran before escalating tensions led to airstrikes in June. US President Donald Trump famously described the strikes as having “obliterated” a nuclear programme that Washington and its ally Israel claim is designed for the development of nuclear weapons. However, a recent NBC News report suggests that while the attacks resulted in substantial damage to one of three targeted nuclear sites, the other two sites remain largely intact.