Iran will hold talks on its nuclear program with France, Germany and the United Kingdom on January 13 in Geneva, marking a new stage in a dialogue that began in late November in Switzerland. The talks, described as "consultations, not negotiations" by Iranian diplomat Kazem Gharibabadi, reflect ongoing tensions over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
The last meeting in November was held in the greatest secrecy on the shores of Lake Geneva. The January meeting comes in a particular context: just one week before the return of Donald Trump at the White House. During his first term (2017-2021), the former US president adopted a strategy of "maximum pressure" on Iran, unilaterally withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal and re-establishing heavy economic sanctions.
In November, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, with the support of the United States, had pushed through a resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accusing Tehran of a lack of cooperation. In response, Iran announced the commissioning of new centrifuges to increase its uranium enrichment.
Deep disagreements over the nuclear program
Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only, including energy production, and denies seeking nuclear weapons. However, Westerners remain skeptical, particularly about uranium enrichment to 60 percent, a threshold close to the 90 percent required to make a nuclear weapon according to IAEA standards.
Ali Akbar Ahmadian, a close adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reiterated that Iran's nuclear doctrine has not changed. In Iran, the supreme leader has the final say on all strategic decisions.
2015 agreement in focus
Concluded in Vienna between Iran and the world's major powers (France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and the United States), the 2015 agreement had made it possible to regulate Iran's nuclear program in exchange for an easing of international sanctions. According to the IAEA, Tehran respected the terms of the agreement until the American withdrawal in 2018.
Relations have since deteriorated, hampering diplomatic efforts by European signatories to keep the deal alive. Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, who favors sanctions relief to revive the country's economy, has backed new talks to revitalize the landmark deal.
The January meeting in Geneva represents an attempt to defuse tensions and foster constructive dialogue between Iran and the Europeans. But amid deep divisions and escalation, expectations remain cautious.
