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Iranian foreign relations

Iran Quietly Resumes Indirect Nuclear Talks with US

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Iran's supreme national security council has instructed the foreign ministry to reopen talks with the Trump administration, aiming to revive diplomacy after a 12-day war with Israel that saw the US bomb key Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran and Washington held five rounds of talks from April 12, but the sixth round was cancelled after Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13. The renewed talks are expected to take place quietly, without publicity, due to strong opposition from hardliners in Tehran. Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, is set to restart nuclear talks with Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's envoy, in Oslo next week.

Key Takeaways:

  • Iran's supreme national security council has instructed the foreign ministry to resume talks with the US, aiming to persuade Trump that Israel was wrong to strike Iran.
  • The renewed talks are expected to focus on reviving diplomacy and stopping the reimposition of UN sanctions before October 18, when a provision in the 2015 nuclear deal would see sanctions automatically come into effect if Iran breaches its nuclear commitments.
  • The talks are expected to take place quietly, without publicity, due to strong opposition from hardliners in Tehran.
  • Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, has written in a Lebanese newspaper that the Islamic Republic's acceptance of the request to stop the war has created another opportunity for comprehensive diplomacy.
  • The Iranian regime has celebrated the end of the war as a "victory", but this unity has quickly descended into disagreements between hardliners and moderates over the country's future.
  • Hardliners believe they have a chance to bring the country together and show the West's weakness, while moderates say the regime should be open to dialogue.
  • Under hardline influence, Iran's parliament has banned International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors from entering sensitive nuclear sites.

Statistics:

  • No specific statistics were mentioned in the article.
  • Five rounds of talks took place between Tehran and Washington from April 12.
  • The sixth round was cancelled after Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13.
  • 1,000 Iranian citizens were reportedly "martyred" in the US-led strikes.
  • The Fordow nuclear site was "seriously and extensively" damaged during the US attack.
  • Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director general, has faced death threats from Iranian lawmakers and regime-affiliated media.
  • The last UN nuclear inspector left Tehran on Friday morning.

Sources:

  • The Telegraph
  • Lebanese newspaper (no date mentioned)
  • Reuters
  • Getty Images
  • Maxar Technologies
  • Reuters (caption)

Note: The sources listed are as mentioned in the original article.

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