European ministers to hold nuclear talks

19/6/2025 6:11

The foreign ministers of

Germany, France and Britain plan to hold nuclear talks with

their Iranian counterpart on Friday in Geneva, a German

diplomatic source told Reuters.



The ministers will first meet with the European Union's top

diplomat, Kaja Kallas, at Germany's permanent mission in Geneva

before holding a joint meeting with the Iranian foreign

minister, the source said.



The European initiative comes amid fears of a spiralling

conflict in the Middle East after Israel launched wide-ranging

military strikes on its arch-enemy Iran last week and Iran sent

waves of missiles at Israeli targets in response.



President Donald Trump has declined to say whether the

United States will join its ally Israel's military campaign,

fuelling concerns that the crisis could intensify.



The aim of the talks between Iran and the Europeans, which

the German source said are taking place in coordination with the

United States, is to persuade the Iranian side to firmly

guarantee that it will use its nuclear programme solely for

civilian purposes.



According to the source, the talks are to be followed by a

structured dialogue at the expert level.



Israel has said its goal is to eliminate Tehran's ability to

develop a nuclear weapon. Iran denies that its nuclear programme

is for military purposes.



German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken out in support

of Israel's attack and angered Tehran this week by saying the

Iranians should de-escalate or face the threat of even greater

destruction.



Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on

Wednesday appealed to Iran's leaders to work towards a solution

that would involve assurances over its nuclear programme,

telling them: "It's never too late to come to the negotiating

table".