Meeting of EU and Iranian representatives concluded: Escalation benefits no one, we will continue talks

(Patria) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described today's negotiations in Geneva with representatives of the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the European Union as "serious and dignified".

In a statement after the meeting, he said that Iran is ready to reconsider the diplomatic approach and supports the continuation of talks.

"We are ready for new meetings with the E3 countries and the European Union in the near future," Araghchi said.

“Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and has always been under the safeguards and supervision of the IAEA. Therefore, armed attacks on protected nuclear facilities by a regime that is not a signatory to any treaty on weapons of mass destruction are a serious crime and a violation of international law.”

He said he expressed "serious concern" over the failure of the E3 countries – Germany, the United Kingdom and France – and the European Union to condemn those attacks.

“Iran is ready to reconsider diplomacy – once the aggression stops and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed,” Araghchi said.

“In this regard, I made it clear that Iran's defensive capabilities are not negotiable.”


Today's negotiations were held in an attempt to stop the escalation of the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Vice President of the European Commission and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized that regional escalation "benefits no one" and that is why "we must keep channels of communication open". She added that both sides agreed to continue talks on nuclear issues, but also on broader issues.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy was direct: "We made it clear: Iran must not have nuclear weapons."

He added that he and his colleagues are "determined to continue negotiations with Iran", and stressed the importance of continuing talks between Iran and the United States.

"This is a dangerous moment and it is extremely important that there is no regional escalation," Lammy warned.