WANA (Jun 20) – Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, met with his counterparts from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, in Geneva this evening.

 

After a while, the meeting was temporarily paused for internal consultations by the European sides. Later, the second round resumed, and it is currently taking place.

 

According to reports, the first round of talks was conducted respectfully and seriously, encompassing the views of all sides. Some of the points raised could be clarified further in order to open the path for diplomacy.

 

In particular, the E3 countries and Europe, which were the initiators of the nuclear talks with Iran, still hope to play a historic role and seize another opportunity to advance diplomacy.

 

It was emphasized that only through the cessation of aggression can diplomacy move forward based on an honest process.

 

The Iranian delegation emphasized that Iran has not left the negotiation table, and this round of talks does not signify the end of dialogue. Iran’s five previous rounds of negotiations with the E3 demonstrate its willingness to maintain the dialogue channel.

 

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced yesterday that the talks are being held on the subject of the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions.

 

Baghaei emphasized the diplomatic apparatus’s full support for the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in defending the country against the criminal aggression of the Israeli regime, and stated that planning to participate in the joint session with the three European countries and the EU foreign policy chief was done at their request, with the goal of discussing the nuclear issue and the latest regional developments following the military aggression of the Israeli regime against Iran.

 

These talks come in the aftermath of Israel’s attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran in the early hours of Friday, June 13, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of several Iranian citizens.

 

In response, Iran carried out “Operation True Promise 3” as part of its legitimate right to respond to the attacks. Military confrontations between Iran and the Zionist regime have continued over the past week.