European powers confront Iran's nuclear ambitions as Trump presidency looms

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visits an exhibition of the country's nuclear achievements, at his office compound in Tehran, Iran, on 11 June 2023.

France has underlined the urgency of a diplomatic solution in response to Iran's advancing nuclear programme as a second round of talks get underway in Geneva, ahead of next week's inauguration of Donald Trump as US president.

France, Britain and Germany are holding talks with Iran in Geneva this Monday over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, just a week before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

They are the second round of talks over Iran's nuclear programme in less than two months, following a discreet meeting held in Switzerland in November between Tehran and the three European powers, known as the E3.

Germany's foreign ministry has underlined: "These are not negotiations", while Iran has similarly emphasised that the talks are merely "consultations".

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According to Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, the discussions – scheduled over Monday and Tuesday – will cover a "wide range of topics ... The primary objective of these talks is to remove the sanctions [on Iran]".

He added that Iran was also "listening to the ... topics that the opposite parties want to raise".

France, European powers push to censure Iran at UN nuclear meeting

Trump's return

This week's talks in Geneva come as Iran's nuclear programme has received renewed focus in light of Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House on 20 January.

Tehran adhered to the deal until Washington's withdrawal, but then began rolling back its commitments.


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