Iran to discuss with France, Germany and Britain the future of its nuclear programme

It will hold talks next Friday (29.11.2024) with France, Germany and Britain on and on regional security issues, such as the war in Lebanon and Gaza. It is noted that the three European countries signed last Thursday (21.11.2024) a text condemning Iran for ‘lack of cooperation’ in its nuclear programme, even submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This text was approved by 19 of the 35 member countries of the IAEA Board of Governors, causing Iran’s outrage that announced in retaliation the launch of its new advanced centrifuge devices. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner In addition to this, Iran will have talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom on the regional and international situation , “including Palestine and Lebanon issues,” announced today (24.11.2024) Iranian diplomacy spokesman Esmail Bagay. The place where Friday’s talks will take place was not determined. Tehran insists that its nuclear programme does not have military objectives and is aimed primarily at producing energy, so it denies that it is seeking to acquire an atomic weapon, which the Western countries suspect. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner The timing of the Iran Nuclear Agreement In 2015, Iran concluded an international agreement in Vienna with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and the United States to control its nuclear programme in exchange for the relaxation of international sanctions against it. But in 2018, Donald Trump, then president of the US, withdrew his country from the agreement – which Tehran had been keeping until then, according to the IAEA and brought back heavy sanctions against Iran. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner In retaliation, Tehran drastically increased its reserves to enriched uranium and raised the enrichment limit to 60%, very close to 90% needed to build an atomic weapon. The 2015 agreement, which has become a dead letter, provided for a maximum enrichment limit of 3.67%. Iran’s new president Masud Pezeskian, a proponent of dialogue with Western countries, said he wants to lift “doubts and ambiguities” for Tehran’s nuclear programme, which he considers to have shown goodwill by inviting IAEA chief Rafael Grossi to the Natanz and Fordo nuclear facilities a week ago.