Iran and EU continue talks, but threat of UN sanctions looms

Iran and European powers agreed to continue talks on Tehran's nuclear program after a meeting at the UN General Assembly. The negotiations took place at a time when France, Britain, and Germany had initiated the process of reimposing UN sanctions for non-compliance with the 2015 agreement.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul pointed out that the chances of a diplomatic solution were “very slim.”

The European states are offering Iran a six-month reprieve from sanctions in exchange for resuming access for inspectors, limiting stocks of enriched uranium, and engaging in dialogue with the US. However, Tehran claims that its nuclear program is peaceful and is demanding “fair” proposals.

US President Donald Trump emphasized before the UN that Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. Shortly thereafter, Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei rejected negotiations with Washington and declared that the country had no intention of manufacturing nuclear weapons.

(reuters, mja)