Description: Facing the firth round of nuclear negotiations with the US, Iranian officials met with diplomats from the E3, France, Germany and the UK in Istanbul. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has stated the negotiations were a sign that Iran and the EU aim at exhausting diplomatic means in reaching the necessary nuclear agreement. Iran is set to engage with the US in a fifth round of negotiations in the upcoming week, as US President Donald Trump stated that representatives from his administration have already delivered a concrete proposal to their Iranian counterparts. The negotiations with the E3 countries come on the precipice of the initiative launched by Iran last week, where a joint nuclear venture was proposed which would be overseen by the IAEA and other international nuclear regulators.
Impact: The E3 – Iran negotiations represent initial measuring of diplomatic pulses as both Iran and Europe are engaging diplomatically for the first time after long period of political grievances. The negotiations emphasize Europe’s position in the nuclear talks between the US and Iran as a crucial sanctions mechanism is set to be reimposed. Statements of concrete proposals by Trump are also aimed at further pressuring Iran into a position of negotiated submission where the regime would concede key parts of their demands regarding the nuclear program. Iran despite the growing pressure from the global sanctions, have so far persisted, however, the Islamic Republic is in a precarious position to concede towards some sort of a concession in order to avoid the reimposition of sanctions from the E3, which would have irreparable consequences to the country’s economy.