Iran-E3 Nuclear Talks (Istanbul, 2025)

Diplomatic talks were held in Istanbul on 16 May 2025 between Iran and the European parties to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—the United Kingdom, France and Germany (E3). The parties met to assess the current situation regarding Iran’s nuclear activities and the lifting of international sanctions. Iran was represented by Deputy Foreign Ministers Mecid Taht Revanchi and Kazim Garibabadi, while the E3 countries participated at the level of political directors of their foreign ministries.

Nature of the Talks and Participants

The Iran-E3 talks took place at Iran’s Consulate General in Istanbul. The Iranian side was represented by Revanchi and Garibabadi, and it was noted that Dominik Mutter participated on behalf of Germany. No joint press statement was issued following the meeting; however, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Garibabadi shared general information about the talks with the public via the X social media platform.

Garibabadi stated: “Dr. Taht Revanchi and I hosted political officials from the three European countries in Istanbul. We exchanged views on the latest developments in the indirect nuclear talks with the United States and on the lifting of sanctions. Iran and the three European countries are determined to continue and effectively utilize diplomacy. We will come together again as needed to continue these discussions.”

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Esmail Bakai stated that the talks were planned as consultations within the framework of the JCPOA and constituted a continuation of meetings originally scheduled to take place in Rome but postponed.

Trigger Mechanism Discussions

The status of the “trigger mechanism” under the JCPOA, which allows for the re-imposition of United Nations sanctions, was among the topics planned for discussion. Iran has expressed concerns on various international platforms about the possibility of European countries activating this mechanism.

In an article published on 11 May 2025 in the French newspaper Le Point, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakhchi warned that the misuse of the mechanism could bring an end to Europe’s role in the JCPOA and lead to an irreversible escalation of tensions.

Continuity and Process of the Talks

The meetings held in Istanbul were not part of a formal negotiation process but were intended for consultation and assessment. The parties indicated their intention to continue the talks at suitable times in the future. No concrete agreement was announced following the meetings concluded on 16 May 2025.