France says Geneva meeting with Iranian FM aims to restart nuclear talks, US kept in loop

A meeting in Geneva today between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and top European counterparts aims to revive nuclear negotiations halted by the Israel–Iran war, according to the French foreign ministry.

The meeting is being held with the goal “of calling for a return to the diplomatic path and continuing negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program,” says the ministry in a statement.

During a phone conversation between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last night, both ministers “emphasized that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs pose a threat to Israel, the region and Europe,” says a French diplomatic source.

Rubio stressed that the United States “is ready for direct talks with the Iranians at any time,” and Barrot presented Rubio with the framework for the Friday meeting between Araghchi and his counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany, as well as the European Union’s foreign policy chief.

Rubio also spoke with his British counterpart, David Lammy, yesterday, as the US announced that it would decide within the next two weeks whether to join Israel’s offensive against Iran.