Next Round of Iran-EU Nuclear Talks Scheduled for January 13

Iran and three European nations—Britain, France, and Germany—are set to resume nuclear talks in Geneva on January 13, according to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, as reported by ISNA news agency.

The negotiations follow tense discussions in November 2024, where Tehran expressed displeasure over a European-backed resolution accusing it of inadequate cooperation with the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In response, Iran announced plans to expand its uranium enrichment activities.

IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi recently noted Iran’s uranium enrichment levels are nearing 60% purity, edging closer to the 90% required for weaponization, though Tehran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.

These developments come amid a backdrop of strained relations since the United States’ 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord under then-President Donald Trump, leading to escalated sanctions and Iran breaching the pact’s limitations.

While efforts by President Joe Biden’s administration to revive the agreement have stalled, Trump, during his recent election campaign, emphasized the urgency of reaching a new deal, stating, “The consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal.”