Iran is ready to resume “fair ” negotiations over its disputed nuclear programme if the West shows goodwill, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said on Thursday.
“Araqchi reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to resume fair and balanced diplomatic negotiations, on the condition that the other parties show seriousness and goodwill and avoid actions that harm the chances of success,” he said in a letter sent to European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
However, Britain, France and Germany, also known is E3, have launched a 30-day process to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, a step likely to stoke tensions two months after Israel and the United States bombed Iran.
The renewed sanctions threat has stirred frustration inside Iran, where leaders are divided between hardliners advocating confrontation and moderates urging diplomacy.
Read: Tehran accuses E3 of harming diplomacy, vows defiance against sanctions
Iran has enriched uranium to 60% fissile purity, close to the 90% weapons grade, and held enough stock for several bombs before Israel’s June 13 strikes, according to the IAEA. While manufacturing a weapon would take more time, the agency says it cannot guarantee Iran’s programme is entirely peaceful.
US and Iran
In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented attack targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, but also hitting residential areas over 12 days of war. US forces joined with attacks on nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz.
The fighting derailed talks that began in April and had been the highest-level contact between Tehran and Washington since the United States abandoned in 2018 a landmark agreement on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Following the war, Tehran suspended cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog and demanded guarantees against military action before resuming any negotiations.
