Iran Rejects EU Call to Resume Nuclear Talks Amid Regional Strikes

The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has urged Iran to immediately resume negotiations on its nuclear program and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), offering EU facilitation for talks. She warned that any threats by Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) would escalate tensions. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the EU's call, emphasizing Iran's sovereign right under the NPT to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and criticizing the EU and UK’s involvement as irrelevant. Araghchi expressed deep mistrust of the United States and some European countries, blaming their support for Israel as a barrier to diplomacy, and insisted that Iran requires guarantees it will not face military attacks before reengaging in talks. Recent US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites have further complicated negotiations, which had been underway but were halted amid the conflict. Despite these tensions, Iranian officials have indicated a willingness to talk if assurances against future attacks are provided, while the EU continues to seek diplomatic solutions to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal framework.