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• Araghchi says: 'Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again once the aggression stop and the aggressor (is) held accountable'

GENEVA

Top European diplomats on Friday stressed the urgency of continued dialogue with Iran following talks in Geneva aimed at de-escalating regional tensions and reviving negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his counterparts from the UK, France, and Germany as well as Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief.

Indirect talks between Iran and the US had been taking place when Israel launched strikes against Iran’s nuclear and military facilities on June 13, prompting retaliation. The tit-for-tat attacks have continued since then.

Speaking after the meeting, Kallas said the talks made clear that "regional escalation benefits no one," underlining the need to maintain open channels with Tehran.

"We agreed that we will discuss nuclear but also broader issues that we have, and keep the discussions open" to make progress, she said.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gave a similar message, urging Tehran to remain at the table.

"We are keen to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran, and we urge Iran to continue their talks with the United States," he said. "This is a perilous moment, and it is hugely important that we don’t see regional escalation of this conflict."

'Extremely high cost' of escalation

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stressed that the initiative had been closely coordinated with key allies and could lay the groundwork for broader negotiations.

"We believe that this diplomatic initiative should pave the way for negotiations," Barrot said. "And we came here after closely coordinating – our colleagues have said it – with our American, Israeli, and regional partners. The Iranian foreign minister expressed his willingness, and we expect Iran to open up to discussion, including with the United States, in order to reach a negotiated settlement through dialogue for this crisis, which carries risks not only for the Middle East region but also for Europe."

In an individual press conference after the joint event, Barrot took questions about possible US military action amid heightened tensions following "two-week window" laid out by President Donald Trump. He said only negotiations could "resolve this major security problem" and warned of the "extremely high cost" of escalation, with far-reaching consequences for regional and global stability.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul characterized the talks as serious and constructive, noting Tehran's apparent openness to further engagement.

"We were able to hold very serious talks with our Iranian counterpart today. The entire region is in an extremely critical situation. And it is our common goal to avoid further escalation and to make progress in negotiations," he said.

"The positive outcome today is that we leave the room with the impression that the Iranian side is fundamentally willing to continue discussing all important issues. For us Europeans, it is important that we are involved, but above all, it is of great importance that the United States of America be involved in these negotiations and in finding a solution."

Wadephul also raised Germany’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, stressing Berlin’s commitment to Israeli security.

"We view Iran's nuclear program with great concern. And for Germany, it is of paramount importance that the security interests of the state of Israel, to which we are particularly committed, are safeguarded. We will prioritize this in all future discussions," he said.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the foreign ministers of the E3 – France, Germany, and the UK – and the EU foreign policy chief reiterated their "strong commitment to the security of Israel" and called on all parties to avoid steps that could deepen the regional crisis.

They said Iran’s nuclear program "has no credible civilian purpose" and urged Tehran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing its latest report.

The group also welcomed US efforts to pursue a negotiated solution and expressed readiness to meet again.

Iran open to diplomacy once 'aggression' is over

In a separate media appearance after the talks, Araghchi said Iran's defense capabilities "are not negotiable."

"Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again once the aggression stops and the aggressor (is) held accountable," he said, referring to Israel.

He also voiced concerned about the E3 and the EU not having condemned the attacks on Iran.

"We support continuation of discussions with E3 and EU and (we) express our readiness to meet again in the near future," he said.

Trump, who argues Tehran cannot have nuclear weapons, unilaterally left the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018, during his first term as president, though its defenders said it was working. Iran, however, maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

The American president on Thursday said he would decide within two weeks whether to join Israel's attacks on Tehran.