Iran held critical diplomatic talks with European powers on Friday in Istanbul, as tensions over its nuclear program reemerged amid renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. The meeting, involving senior Iranian and European diplomats, was aimed at salvaging the fragile 2015 nuclear deal, which has teetered on the brink since the U.S. withdrawal in 2018.
While diplomats huddled behind closed doors, Trump issued a pointed ultimatum from Abu Dhabi, warning Iran of “something bad” unless it agreed to a new deal quickly. His comments underscored the growing divide between Tehran and Washington, despite recent indirect negotiations and mediation efforts by Oman.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who participated in the Istanbul meeting, confirmed that the talks focused on reviving diplomacy and lifting U.S.-imposed sanctions. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “We exchanged views and discussed the latest status of the indirect nuclear negotiations and the lifting of sanctions.”
He added that Tehran was prepared for further discussions with the so-called E3 — Britain, France, and Germany — and was committed to a diplomatic path, signaling a potential opening despite sharp rhetoric on both sides.
Yet, hours before that statement, Trump declared that his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a new agreement following four rounds of indirect talks. “They know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen,” Trump said during a press conference in the UAE.
His remarks echoed his trademark “maximum pressure” approach toward Iran, which defined his first term and appears to be reemerging since his return to office in January. Trump has warned of severe consequences if negotiations fail, including the possibility of military action and a total blockade of Iranian oil exports.
The Istanbul meeting came at a crucial juncture for Europe. The E3 are considering invoking the so-called “snapback” provision of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which would reinstate all United Nations sanctions on Iran in response to its violations of the deal.
Under the JCPOA, Iran had agreed to strict limits on its nuclear program in return for relief from international sanctions. However, after Trump unilaterally exited the agreement in 2018 and reimposed U.S. sanctions, Iran gradually breached several limits, including on uranium enrichment and centrifuge development.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that invoking the snapback mechanism would carry “irreversible consequences,” accusing European powers of aligning too closely with U.S. pressure tactics.
“Such a move risks provoking a global nuclear proliferation crisis that would primarily affect Europeans themselves,” Araghchi said in a written statement. Nonetheless, he also struck a more conciliatory tone in an op-ed for the French magazine Le Point, stating that Iran was “ready to turn the page” in its relationship with Europe — provided that negotiations were conducted in good faith.
At the heart of the dispute is Iran’s accelerated uranium enrichment program. Iran is now enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, well above the 3.67 percent limit set in the 2015 deal, though still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for weapons-grade material.
Iran insists that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful. Speaking on Wednesday, Iran’s atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami reiterated that the country “does not seek nuclear militarisation.” He emphasized that enrichment activities remain under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), though the scope of inspections has been limited in recent years.
“The dismantling of enrichment is not accepted by Iran,” Eslami said, reaffirming Tehran’s position that its right to peaceful nuclear technology is non-negotiable.
Western officials, however, remain skeptical. A senior European diplomat present in Istanbul, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the talks were “constructive but incomplete.” He added, “There’s clearly some movement, but the gap remains wide — especially on verification, enrichment caps, and sanctions relief.”
Though not present at the Istanbul meeting, China and Russia — both signatories of the original JCPOA — have maintained their own engagement with Tehran. Earlier this week, Chinese officials reiterated their support for a diplomatic resolution.
“We remain committed to promoting a political and diplomatic settlement of the Iran issue,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian. “We value Iran’s commitment to not develop nuclear weapons.”
China’s involvement has also complicated the U.S. strategy. With Beijing purchasing significant quantities of Iranian oil, U.S. sanctions have been undercut, limiting their effectiveness. Analysts believe this has emboldened Tehran to resist American demands while shoring up its economy.
In a rare moment of clarity, Araghchi acknowledged that the talks with Europe and with the U.S. were proceeding on “separate tracks.” Despite the animosity, backchannel communications between Iran and the U.S. have continued via Oman, which has traditionally played the role of intermediary during periods of deadlock.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on Friday with European national security advisers in Istanbul to coordinate positions on both Iran and Ukraine. A U.S. official said the discussions were “detailed and serious,” though no breakthrough was announced.
“We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” Trump told reporters on Thursday during his visit to Qatar, alluding to the military option. “But they need to take our offer seriously. This is the last, best chance.”
The stakes are rising as a key deadline looms. The JCPOA’s snapback mechanism — which allows for the reimposition of UN sanctions — is set to expire in October 2025. If the Europeans decide to trigger it before then, Iran’s already strained economy could face another major blow, with ripple effects on global oil markets.
European officials appear divided. France and Britain are reportedly more inclined toward the snapback option, while Germany has pushed for extended diplomacy.
“Snapback is not a guaranteed success,” said Ellie Geranmayeh, senior Iran analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “It could backfire by hardening Iran’s position and collapsing what little diplomatic space remains.”
For Tehran, the strategy remains a mix of defiance and diplomacy. By holding firm on uranium enrichment while remaining open to limited technical concessions, Iran is trying to project strength at home while avoiding full isolation abroad.
Officials in Tehran have hinted they might accept a temporary freeze on enrichment levels, but only in exchange for significant economic relief — including access to frozen assets and renewed oil exports.
Iran’s leadership remains deeply suspicious of Trump’s intentions. While some within the government view a deal as necessary to stabilize the economy, hardliners in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) view any concession as a sign of weakness.
“The olive branch Trump claims to offer comes with thorns,” said one Iranian analyst close to the government. “They remember what happened in 2018.”
As negotiations hang in the balance, Friday’s Istanbul talks may have marked a small step forward, but the road to a new or revived nuclear deal remains steep. The window for diplomacy is closing fast — and with it, the prospect of avoiding yet another Middle Eastern crisis.
