Iran has proposed meeting the European parties to a 2015 nuclear deal possibly in Rome this Friday if talks resume with the United States, four diplomats said yesterday, cautioning that there has yet to be a response from the Europeans to the idea.
Iran is looking to build on the momentum of nuclear negotiations with the United States that resumed in Oman on Saturday and after talks with Russia and China last week.
Omani officials have said a new round of US-Iran talks could be held on Saturday in Europe. No formal decision has been taken.
Iran’s reach out to Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, suggests Tehran is keeping its options open, but also wants to assess where the Europeans stand on the possible re-imposition of UN sanctions before October, when a resolution ratifying the 2015 accord expires.
Two E3 diplomats and a Western diplomat said Iran had communicated after last Saturday’s talks with the United States a proposal to meet possibly in Rome on Friday.
Should that not be possible, the Iranians also suggested discussions in Tehran before that date, the diplomats said.
The second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran took place in Rome with Iran saying serious differences remained.
An Iranian official confirmed the proposal, but said the E3 had not responded so far.
The European and Western diplomats said the E3 were assessing whether it was in their interest to meet Iran now or wait to see how talks with Washington developed, but ruled out a meeting in Tehran.
“It is important to remain on the same page with all parties to the 2015 deal. Therefore, meeting the E3 countries this week ahead of the next round of talks with Americans would be useful,” said the Iranian official.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday he was ready to travel to Europe for talks, although he suggested that the ball was in Europe’s court after ties had soured between the two sides.
Since September, Tehran and the three European powers have met several times to discuss their ties and the nuclear issue.
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