A renewed diplomatic effort involving Germany, France, and the United Kingdom has underlined the importance of including the United States in future negotiations with Iran, amid escalating tensions following last week’s military escalation between Israel and Iran.
Renewed European engagement with Iran
On Tuesday evening, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the UK met with Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in a three-hour conversation focused on Iran’s nuclear programme and the ongoing regional conflict. The talks come in the wake of Israel’s recent military strikes on Iranian targets, which abruptly ended the indirect dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, stated that the involvement of the US is crucial to finding a path to end the ongoing war. He emphasised that future diplomatic efforts must involve all key stakeholders, including the US, to ensure regional stability.
The EU’s strategic role
Isabel Bramsen, a peace researcher at Lund University, noted that the European Union has historically played a pivotal role in facilitating nuclear agreements with Iran. She recalled that the EU was the lead coordinator of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which saw Iran agree to curtail its uranium enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
According to Bramsen, “The EU was absolutely central to securing the 2015 agreement, and it could play the same role again.” She highlighted the presence of the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, at the recent meeting as a signal of the Union’s ongoing commitment to diplomacy in the region.
Outlook for transatlantic cooperation
While the current military tensions between Israel and Iran have halted direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran, the European ministers expressed readiness for continued dialogue with Iran. The inclusion of the USA is seen not only as a diplomatic necessity but also as a means to restore a broader consensus on non-proliferation in the region.
The renewed European push reflects both concern about regional stability and the desire to avoid a further breakdown in nuclear diplomacy. Whether the US will rejoin the talks in a meaningful way remains a key question for the coming weeks.
