Analysts predict that newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump will confront Iran immediately after taking office for his second term. This Republican leader is as concerned about Tehran’s nuclear program as Israel. During his previous term, Trump withdrew from the agreement that six powerful nations of the world had signed with Iran regarding its nuclear program.
Under the agreement, Iran had pledged to limit its nuclear capabilities in exchange for the lifting of several sanctions by the United States and its allies. However, Trump’s withdrawal from the deal led Tehran to stockpile uranium beyond the agreed limits.
It is expected that Trump will impose new sanctions on the country during his second term. In such a situation, Iran, a significant player in Middle Eastern geopolitics, is set to hold talks with three powerful European nations regarding its nuclear program. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the talks are set to occur a week before Trump officially takes office.
The report states that Iran will discuss its nuclear program with three European powers—France, Britain, and Germany. The news agency revealed this information on Monday, adding that the discussions would take place just a week before Trump’s inauguration.
AFP reported that a meeting between Tehran and the three European powers, collectively known as the E3, was held in Geneva, Switzerland, in November last year. Less than two months after that fruitful meeting, the parties are set to hold a second round of discussions on Monday.
However, Germany’s foreign ministry emphasized that these are not negotiations. Similarly, Iran also stressed that these discussions are merely consultations. Last week, the French foreign ministry stated that the E3 countries are working towards a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program, and this meeting reflects that effort. However, progress remains highly challenging.
Analysts note that in 2015, the European nations were earnest in their meetings with Iran. However, Tehran has recently engaged in direct retaliatory attacks with Israel, eroding trust among Western countries. Consequently, if Trump adopts a tough stance against Iran, European countries may not oppose it.
Should this happen, the Gulf nation is likely to face a precarious situation. Nonetheless, analysts believe such pressure is not new for Iran.