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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday rejected US chief negotiator Steve Witkoff's remarks about zero enrichment in Iran as "completely detached from the reality of the negotiations."
"Enrichment will continue in Iran. If they are interested in ensuring that no nuclear weapons are produced, we are prepared to cooperate on that. But if they make unrealistic demands, it is only natural that they will not be met," he told IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News.
Iran's nuclear talks with Britain, France and Germany in Istanbul turned tense on Friday, as the European envoys pushed for expanded enforcement authority under a potential US-Iran deal to restore UN sanctions on Tehran, the Iranian daily Farhikhtegan reported.
The Istanbul meeting, held at Iran’s consulate and attended by political directors from the UK, France, and Germany, saw the Europeans propose language that would give them standing power to reimpose UN sanctions, irrespective of US participation in any agreement.
According to the report published on Sunday, the European side demanded the right to activate sanctions unilaterally under a "snapback-plus" cause in any deal reached between Iran and the US.
The Iranian delegation firmly rejected the proposal, Farhikhtegan wrote, warning that any such move could provoke Tehran to reconsider its membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
One unnamed Iranian official was quoted as saying: “Iran has no objection to Europe’s presence in negotiations, but this cannot mean granting them enforcement privileges that exceed the original terms.”
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was asked on Sunday if the Istanbul talks signaled a renewed European willingness to engage. He replied, "The issue is that the Europeans have always had such a will, but their capabilities are limited."
"At the moment, the Europeans are not involved in our talks with the Americans, which is not something we welcome. It seems they haven't reached an internal consensus on this issue," he told IRNA on the sidelines of the Tehran Dialogue Forum.
"We will continue our talks with Europe and believe that the more mutual understanding exists between us, the better. We want Europe to play its role, though they themselves have diminished that role."
Snapback mechanism
The Farhikhtegan report said that European envoys threatened to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism and raised the prospect of broader sanctions should their demands be sidelined—remarks that further escalated tensions during the Istanbul meeting.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi confirmed on Sunday that the snapback issue was raised in recent discussions with the Europeans.
“The Europeans are aware of our position on this matter,” he said. “If any misuse occurs in this regard, we will not remain passive and will take measures within the framework of the NPT.”
The snapback mechanism is a provision within the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) that allows for the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran if it is found to be in “significant non-performance” of its commitments. This process is outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA.
Under the mechanism, any JCPOA participant—France, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, and arguably the US—can file a complaint to the UN Security Council. If the Council does not pass a resolution to continue sanctions relief within 30 days, all previously lifted UN sanctions are automatically reinstated.
Crucially, this reimposition cannot be blocked by a veto from any permanent member of the Security Council. Although the US withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, it could still influence other participants to trigger snapback.
President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East said Washington will not accept any level of uranium enrichment in a potential agreement with Tehran, adding that the next round of negotiations may take place in Europe in the coming days.
“We cannot allow even 1 percent of an enrichment capability,” Steven Witkoff told ABC News. “Everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment. We cannot have that.”
Witkoff said the US has delivered a proposal aimed at resolving the dispute “without disrespecting” Iran.
He emphasized that Trump is seeking a diplomatic resolution. “He has directly sent letters to the supreme leader. I have been dispatched to deliver that message as well, and I've delivered it."
“The president has been very clear—he wants to solve this conflict diplomatically and with dialogue,” Witkoff added.
Earlier in the day Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the next round of talks with the United States has been set but did not provide further details of the location or date of the meeting.
Witkoff, however, said talks with Iran may take place in Europe.
“We think that we will be meeting sometime this week in Europe. And we hope that it will lead to some real positivity,” he said.
Washington has reportedly decided to withdraw a message sent to Iran after Tehran denied receiving it, Sky News Arabia reported, citing unnamed sources.
For the first time in nearly 10 years, a direct flight operated by a Saudi Arabian airline landed in Iran on Saturday night, marking a significant step in renewed ties between the two countries.
The flight, operated by Flynas, arrived at Imam Khomeini International Airport on May 18 as part of the 2025 Hajj operations.
This service is part of an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to facilitate the transportation of Iranian pilgrims to this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
Under the terms of the agreement, Flynas is responsible for flights from Mashhad and part of the routes from Tehran, while Iran Air will handle the remaining routes.
Flynas is expected to operate 224 round-trip flights by July 1, transporting approximately 37,000 Iranian pilgrims, according to Iranian media.
In January 2024, flights to Saudi Arabia for Iranian pilgrims traveling for Umrah were canceled due to "technical disagreements" between the two countries. However, in April, Saudi Arabia reinstated the pilgrimage flights, allowing 90,000 Iranians to participate in the 2024 Hajj.
Tehran and Riyadh reached an agreement in February 2023 to resume diplomatic relations after a seven-year diplomatic hiatus. The agreement, mediated by China during the visit of then Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani to Beijing, paved the way for a subsequent trip by Ebrahim Raisi, then President of the Islamic Republic, to Saudi Arabia.
