A Week Before Trump Was Inaugurated, Iran's Nuclear Negotiations And 2 European Countries Were Held Again
JAKARTA - Iran will hold nuclear negotiations with three European countries, namely France, Britain and Germany today, Monday, January 13.
"This is not a negotiation," the German Foreign Ministry told AFP, Monday, January 13.
Iran also stressed that these negotiations were merely "consultation."
The negotiations were held just a week before US President-elect Donald Trump officially took office.
The meeting marks the second round of negotiations to discuss Iran's nuclear program after a secret meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2024. At that time, the meeting was attended by Iran and three European countries, known as the E3.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baqaei, said the plan for nuclear-related negotiations would last until tomorrow.
"The main goal of these negotiations is to remove sanctions against Iran," he said.
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Baqaei added, Iran is also "catching up ... the topics that the opposing parties want to raise."
On Thursday, January 9, 2025, France's Foreign Ministry said today's meeting was a sign that E3 countries were continuing to seek diplomatic solutions for Iran's nuclear program.
Talks of the negotiations will be surrounding Iran's nuclear program considering Trump will return to the White House soon on January 20, 2025.
During his first term as US President, Trump has implemented a "maximum pressure" policy, drawing the US from an important nuclear deal by imposing restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Iran complied with the agreement until the US withdrew. Iran has finally begun to lift its commitment.
Efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear pact have failed and European officials have repeatedly expressed frustration over Iran's non-compliance.
The "critical point" occurred last week when French President Emmanuel Macron said the acceleration of Iran's nuclear program "takes us very close to a critical point".
Iran later criticized Macron's comments by replying: "baseless" and "tricked."