Iran, E3 Diplomats Discuss Nuclear Talks Amid Sanctions Risk

Iran, Russia, and China are set to meet in Tehran to discuss Iran's nuclear program and the potential reimposition of international sanctions under the UN's snapback mechanism, which Britain, France, and Germany (the E3) have warned they may invoke if nuclear talks do not progress by the end of August. Iran's deputy foreign ministers will hold talks with the E3 and EU diplomats in Istanbul, while Tehran maintains it will seek answers from these countries for not condemning recent Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian officials argue the E3 lack the legal standing to invoke the snapback mechanism due to their positions on these attacks. Abbas Moqtadaei, a member of Iran's parliamentary national security commission, warned that if sanctions are reimposed, Iran could withhold its security commitments in the Persian Gulf, Hormuz Strait, and other maritime areas, highlighting Iran’s capacity to retaliate. The suspension of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US followed Israel's June strikes on Iranian targets, which Israel justified as necessary to prevent Iran's threats against it. Iran also emphasized that Europe is not in a position to jeopardize regional security given its own conflicts with Russia, China, and the US.