New Round of Talks on 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal Resumes

A new round of high-stakes negotiations began today between the European Troika, Britain, France, and Germany, and Iran, in Istanbul, Turkey. The talks, led by Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministers Majid Takht Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, aim to reaffirm Iran's rights to peaceful nuclear energy, particularly regarding uranium enrichment. The discussions come after the suspension of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran, following Israel's June 13 attack on Iranian territory. Iran had previously warned of the risks of reinstating international sanctions via the snapback mechanism, which European countries threatened to activate by October 18, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

• The new round of talks, held at the Iranian Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey, is being led by Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministers Majid Takht Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi.
• The negotiations aim to reaffirm Iran's rights to peaceful nuclear energy, particularly regarding uranium enrichment, as stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
• The talks are being held behind closed doors and away from the media, amidst a climate of anticipation.
• The discussions come after the suspension of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran, following Israel's June 13 attack on Iranian territory.
• Iran signed the nuclear deal in July 2015 with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, including the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China, and Germany.
• The United States unilaterally withdrew from the agreement on May 8, 2018, reimposing broad economic sanctions on Tehran.
• Iran had warned of the risks of reinstating international sanctions via the snapback mechanism, which European countries threatened to activate should no resolution be reached on Iran's nuclear program by October 18, 2025.
• The snapback mechanism is a special provision in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which supports the nuclear deal and allows any party to refer claims of significant non-compliance to the Security Council.

Statistics:

• Date of the new round of talks: July 25, 2025.
• Number of parties involved in the negotiations: 4 (European Troika, Britain, France, and Germany, and Iran).
• Number of Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministers leading the talks: 2 (Majid Takht Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi).
• Date of Iran's withdrawal from the nuclear deal: July 2015 (signed), May 8, 2018 (unilaterally withdrawn from by the United States).
• Date by which European countries threatened to activate the snapback mechanism: October 18, 2025.

Sources:

• Qatar News Agency, "New round of talks on 2015 Iran nuclear deal begins", July 25, 2025.
• Tasnim News Agency, cited in Qatar News Agency article.
• Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, quoted in Qatar News Agency article.
• UN Security Council Resolution 2231, July 20, 2015.