IRIA News

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The United Kingdom, Germany, and France have jointly expressed readiness to engage in immediate negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. The announcement comes amid an escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran and the abrupt cancellation of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, currently touring the Middle East, confirmed that the three European powers are united in their offer to Tehran. Speaking to a public broadcaster, Wadephul said, “Germany, together with France and Britain, are ready. We’re offering Iran immediate negotiations about the nuclear program. I hope the offer is accepted.”

Wadephul emphasized that diplomatic engagement is essential for reducing hostilities in the region and preventing Iran from becoming a threat to its neighbors or Europe. “This is also a key prerequisite for reaching a pacification of this conflict, that Iran presents no danger to the region, for the state of Israel or to Europe,” he added.

The move from the European trio is seen as a last-ditch effort to revive diplomacy after a major blow to U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the next round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which was scheduled to take place in Oman, had been cancelled. Asked directly whether the talks were off, Araghchi replied, “Yes.” The Omani government also confirmed the cancellation.

Fallout from escalating conflict

The breakdown in U.S.-Iran talks follows a major military escalation in the region. Israel carried out what Tehran described as its largest-ever strike against Iranian targets. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes, raising fears of a broader regional war.

Iran has since declared further negotiations with the United States “meaningless.” According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, “The other side [the US] acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime [Israel] to target Iran’s territory.”

Tehran has accused Washington of enabling Israeli aggression, a charge the United States firmly denies. At a UN Security Council session, U.S. representatives urged Iran to return to negotiations, with the Biden administration maintaining that dialogue is the only viable path to de-escalation.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump inflamed tensions further by praising the Israeli strikes. “Excellent,” Trump remarked when asked about the attacks, despite earlier warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to jeopardize talks.

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza

The diplomatic rift is compounded by the worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza. In the same interview, Wadephul addressed the plight of civilians in the besieged enclave, calling the conditions “unacceptable” and demanding immediate humanitarian access.

“The hunger, the dying, the suffering of the people in Gaza must come to an end,” he declared, urging Israel to allow unrestricted access for aid organizations. His call echoed similar demands from across the international community.

While firmly supporting Israel’s right to self-defense, Wadephul reiterated that the ongoing military conflict must end to prevent a regional collapse. He stressed that both Iran and Israel must be subjected to international pressure to halt further hostilities. “There’s a shared expectation that within the next week, a serious attempt must be made on both sides to interrupt the spiral of violence,” he said.

Wadephul also clarified that Germany does not believe Israel aims to overthrow the Iranian regime. “I assumed that it was not Israel’s intention to bring down the administration in Tehran,” he stated, distancing Berlin from any speculation about regime change agendas.

On domestic Israeli politics, particularly the increasingly controversial government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Wadephul remained neutral, calling it an internal matter. His stated priority is alleviating suffering and pushing for de-escalation.

A missed opportunity?

Wadephul lamented that Iran had previously failed to seize a diplomatic opportunity and urged Tehran not to squander another. “I hope that’s still possible,” he said, noting that negotiations are the only viable route to preventing nuclear proliferation and broader instability.

This view is shared by many European analysts and officials who see the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, as the foundation for any meaningful resolution.

That agreement began to unravel after the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew in 2018, reimposing sweeping sanctions on Iran. Since then, efforts to restore the deal have repeatedly stalled, with both sides accusing each other of bad faith.

As of now, Iran continues to enrich uranium far beyond the JCPOA’s limits, drawing concern from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Western intelligence services. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, but its adversaries argue the path to weaponization is now dangerously short.

With U.S.-Iran negotiations suspended and military tensions rising, the initiative from Germany, France, and the UK may represent one of the last remaining diplomatic lifelines. Whether Iran will respond positively remains uncertain.