International
-Sathish Raman
A
meeting
in
Geneva
between
Iran’s
foreign
minister
and
key
European
diplomats
ended
with
hopes
for
further
dialogue
but
no
immediate
breakthroughs.
This
gathering
came
a
week
after
tensions
over
Iran’s
nuclear
program
escalated
into
conflict
with
Israel.
The
discussions
involved
ministers
from
Britain,
France,
Germany,
and
the
EU’s
foreign
policy
chief.
image
Iran’s
Foreign
Minister
Abbas
Araghchi
expressed
willingness
to
continue
talks
with
the
E3
and
the
EU.
He
also
criticised
Israel’s
attacks
on
Iranian
nuclear
sites
and
voiced
concern
over
Europe’s
lack
of
condemnation.
“We
are
ready
to
meet
again
soon,” Araghchi
stated
after
the
meeting.
European
Diplomats
Urge
Continued
Dialogue
German
Foreign
Minister
Johann
Wadephul
noted
that
both
sides
engaged
in
“very
serious
talks.” He
remarked,
“The
good
result
today
is
that
we
leave
the
room
with
the
impression
that
the
Iranian
side
is
fundamentally
ready
to
continue
talking
about
all
important
issues.”
British
Foreign
Secretary
David
Lammy
emphasised
the
need
for
ongoing
discussions
with
Iran.
French
Foreign
Minister
Jean-Noël
Barrot
highlighted
the
futility
of
military
solutions,
citing
past
experiences
in
Afghanistan,
Iraq,
and
Libya.
“Military
operations
can
slow
Iran’s
nuclear
program
but
cannot
eliminate
it,” he
said.
Barrot
urged
Iran
to
consider
negotiations
involving
all
parties,
including
the
US.
US
Weighs
Military
Options
US
Secretary
of
State
Marco
Rubio
and
President
Trump’s
envoy
Steve
Witkoff
met
with
Lammy
in
Washington
before
his
Geneva
trip.
Trump
is
contemplating
a
strike
on
Iran’s
Fordo
uranium
enrichment
site.
He
plans
to
decide
within
two
weeks
on
potential
US
military
involvement,
given
a
“substantial
chance”
for
renewed
nuclear
talks.
Israel
claims
its
airstrikes
aim
to
prevent
Iran
from
advancing
its
nuclear
weapon
capabilities.
The
US
had
been
negotiating
a
new
diplomatic
deal
with
Iran,
but
Israel’s
actions
followed
a
60-day
window
set
by
Trump
for
these
talks.
Iran’s
Stance
on
Negotiations
Iran’s
supreme
leader
dismissed
US
demands
for
surrender,
warning
of
“irreparable
damage”
if
America
intervenes
militarily.
Araghchi
told
Iranian
state
TV
that
Tehran
isn’t
seeking
negotiations
amid
ongoing
Israeli
attacks.
“We
have
nothing
to
discuss
with
the
United
States,”
he
said,
rejecting
talks
with
Americans.
Araghchi
clarified
that
Friday’s
discussions
would
focus
solely
on
nuclear
and
regional
issues,
excluding
missile
talks.
He
stated,
“As
for
others,
if
they
seek
dialogue,
not
negotiations,
which
don’t
make
sense
right
now,
we
have
no
problem
with
that.”
Threats
of
Sanctions
Reinstatement
Before
meeting
European
diplomats,
Araghchi
addressed
the
UN
Human
Rights
Council
in
Geneva.
He
condemned
Israel’s
actions
as
“grave
war
crimes”
and
affirmed
Iran’s
right
to
defend
its
sovereignty.
Despite
claiming
its
nuclear
program
is
peaceful,
Iran
enriches
uranium
close
to
weapons-grade
levels.
The
three
European
countries
were
instrumental
in
the
2015
nuclear
deal
negotiations.
They
have
threatened
to
reinstate
sanctions
lifted
under
this
agreement
if
Iran
fails
to
cooperate
with
the
International
Atomic
Energy
Agency.
With
inputs
from
PTI
