Geneva Talks Focus on Iran, Nuclear Tensions With Israel/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Iran’s foreign minister held urgent talks in Geneva with top European diplomats to address the escalating Israel-Iran conflict and nuclear concerns. Abbas Araghchi rejected negotiations with the U.S. but expressed openness to dialogue with Europe. Western leaders aim to present a diplomatic solution within two weeks.
Iran-Europe Nuclear Crisis Talks Quick Looks
- Iran’s Abbas Araghchi meets UK, France, Germany, EU officials
- Discussions follow outbreak of war between Israel and Iran
- Iran refuses U.S. talks, says dialogue with others possible
- France, UK, Germany aim for diplomatic resolution in two weeks
- Trump weighs military action on Iran’s Fordo nuclear site
Geneva Talks Focus on Iran, Nuclear Tensions With Israel
Deep Look
Amid a rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met face-to-face with top European diplomats in Geneva on Friday for critical discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program and broader regional stability. The meeting marked the first high-level contact between Western officials and Iran since open hostilities began last week.
Held at a private hotel in the Swiss city, the meeting included foreign ministers from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, as well as the European Union’s top foreign policy official. While the United States was notably absent from the discussions, it remains a looming presence in the background. President Donald Trump has signaled he may soon decide whether to launch direct U.S. military action against Iran’s fortified Fordo nuclear facility.
Araghchi made it clear ahead of the meeting that Iran is not open to negotiations with the United States while Israeli airstrikes continue. “We have nothing to discuss with the United States, which is a partner in these crimes,” he said. However, he left the door open to “dialogue, not negotiations” with European nations, emphasizing that discussions would be limited to nuclear issues and regional security—not Iran’s missile program.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy struck a hopeful note, saying there is a “window within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.” Lammy flew to Geneva directly after high-level meetings in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
France and Germany echoed that urgency. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that European diplomats came prepared with a “comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer” for Iran to consider.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul acknowledged that years of negotiations haven’t resolved global concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but reiterated that now is the time for renewed engagement. “Every conversation makes sense,” Wadephul said, urging Iran to “conduct these talks with a new seriousness and reliability.”
The stakes have rarely been higher. Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, but it has enriched uranium up to 60%, dangerously close to weapons-grade levels. Israel argues its recent airstrikes are essential to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran, meanwhile, says those attacks amount to war crimes.
Araghchi told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Tehran “is entitled and determined to defend its territorial integrity and national sovereignty with all force.”
Despite this hardline stance, the presence of Iran’s top diplomat in Geneva suggests a possible path forward—albeit narrow. While the United States and Iran remain on hostile footing, European powers appear determined to serve as intermediaries to avoid a broader regional war.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by Trump’s looming decision on whether to greenlight a military strike against Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear site, which is believed to be impervious to most conventional munitions. Trump has acknowledged a “substantial chance” of renewed nuclear negotiations, but only if Israeli airstrikes stop and Iran agrees to transparent compliance.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reportedly assured Rubio in a Thursday phone call that the Geneva discussions were intended to pave the way for de-escalation. According to a French official, Rubio “stressed that the U.S. was ready for direct contact with the Iranians at any time.”
Despite Iran’s official refusal to negotiate with Washington, the involvement of European powers—key players in the original 2015 nuclear deal—signals a potential shift in dynamics. Whether that diplomatic window will remain open depends largely on how events unfold in the next two weeks.
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