Iran, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom will "continue their diplomatic dialogue in the near future," a senior Iranian diplomat said on Friday following highly discreet talks in Geneva.
"We are firmly committed to defending the interests of our people, and our preference is for dialogue and engagement," Kazem Gharibabadi, deputy to the Iranian Foreign Minister, wrote on X, adding that the discussions were "frank."
Talks are taking place this Friday in Geneva between Iran, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom to address the Iranian nuclear issue, Russia, and the situation in the Middle East, less than two months before Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
On the eve of this meeting, Enrique Mora, the European Union’s deputy foreign policy chief, said he had a "frank discussion" in Geneva on Thursday with Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, both deputies to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
This discussion focused on "Iran’s support for Russia, which must cease, the nuclear issue, which requires a diplomatic solution, regional tensions – it is important for all parties to avoid escalation – and human rights," he said on X.
Following up on a meeting in New York in September, Friday’s gathering is being held under strict confidentiality, with neither the names of participants nor the venue disclosed.
It takes place in a context of heightened tensions in the Middle East, involving Iran, its allies, and Israel, and less than two months before Donald Trump’s return to the White House, after pursuing a "maximum pressure" policy against Iran during his first term.
IAEA chiding
Friday's talks in Geneva have been overshadowed by the European countries teaming up with the United States to have Iran censured by the UN atomic watchdog.
Last week, the 35-nation board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a resolution proposed by Britain, France, Germany and the United States condemning Iran for its lack of cooperation on nuclear issues.
The chiding at the IAEA prompted a defiant response from Iran, which described the move as "politically motivated" and in response announced the launch of "new advanced centrifuges" designed to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium.
However, Iranian officials have since signalled willingness to engage with others ahead of Trump's return.
Iran insists on its right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but according to the IAEA, it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60 percent.
The IAEA said in a report that Iran planned to install thousands of new centrifuges.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper published Thursday, Araghchi warned that frustration in Tehran over unmet commitments, such as lifting sanctions, was fuelling debate over whether the country should alter its nuclear policy.
"We have no intention to go further than 60 percent for the time being, and this is our determination right now," he told the British daily.
But, he added, "there is this debate going on in Iran, and mostly among the elites... whether we should change our nuclear doctrine" as so far it has proven to be "insufficient in practice".
A 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers aimed to give Iran relief from crippling Western sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme to prevent it from developing a weapons capability.
Tehran has consistently denied any such ambition.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final authority in Iran's decision-making, has issued a religious decree, or fatwa, prohibiting atomic weapons.
'Double disaster'
For Tehran, the goal of Friday's talks is to avoid a "double disaster" scenario of renewed pressures from both Trump and European governments, according to political analyst Mostafa Shirmohammadi.
He noted that Iran's support in Europe had been eroded by allegations it offered military assistance for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Iran has denied these accusations and hopes to mend relations with Europe, while also maintaining a firm stance.
Christophe Vogt and Sébastien Ricci with AFP
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