Iran continues talks on JCPOA with E3 countries in Geneva

Senior officials from Iran and the E3 European trio (Britain, France, Germany) have met on Monday, 13th January, to discuss the removal of sanctions on Iran and its nuclear programme. Iran’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi, along with political directors and deputy ministers from the E3 countries, met in Geneva, Switzerland. The sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and the current situation in the region.

Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran for Legal and International Affairs, was also present at the meeting.

This meeting in Geneva with the three European countries continues the discussions held with the E3 in September at the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as well as the negotiations held in November in Geneva. The two parties have been conducting talks on and off since 2021, three years after the US unlawfully and unilaterally withdrew from the historic nuclear agreement between Iran and other world powers under President Donald Trump, reimposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Because of the E3’s failure to fulfill their promise to bring Washington back to the agreement, Iran has taken retaliatory measures, including activating more advanced centrifuges. The country has continued to take measures in response to other parties’ continued refusal to fulfill their obligations.

Earlier this year, the E3 submitted a resolution against Iran, proposed by the United States, to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors, which was approved by the Board.

Speaking on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Iran has always prioritized the lifting of sanctions. However, he emphasized that they have learned that they must improve their capabilities to minimize the impact of sanctions. Baghaei noted that the meeting in Geneva primarily aims to discuss the lifting of unlawful sanctions imposed on Iran, but other topics are also addressed.

On Thursday, Takht-Ravanchi will meet with Enrique Mora, the Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service in Geneva.