Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday he would be willing to visit Germany, France, and Britain for talks on his country's nuclear program.
Tehran recently reopened nuclear talks with its arch-foe, the United States, engaging in two rounds of mediated negotiations in Muscat and Rome, with a third slated for Saturday back in the Omani capital.
Germany, France, and Britain, along with the United States, were among the parties to a landmark 2015 deal that placed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for sanctions relief -- a deal that collapsed after US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018.
"After my recent consultations in Moscow and Beijing, I am ready to take the first step with visits to Paris, Berlin, and London," Araghchi said in a post on X, adding that he was open to talks "not only on the nuclear issue but in each and every other area of mutual interest and concern."
Araghchi was in China on Wednesday to meet with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi ahead of Saturday's talks with the United States.
Last week he visited Moscow for similar discussions and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Araghchi voiced satisfaction at the level of cooperation with allies China and Russia but said on Thursday that ties with the three European powers, or E3, "are currently down."
He added that "the ball is now in the E3's court," saying they "have an opportunity to do away with the grip of special interest groups and forge a different path."
French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine told AFP that Paris would wait and see "if this announcement by the Iranian minister is followed by effects."
He added that France "will very willingly continue to dialogue with the Iranians" on the nuclear subject.
Germany and Britain did not immediately comment on the matter.
Iran and the E3 have recently taken steps to re-establish a dialogue on the nuclear issue, holding a handful of meetings since late last year.
On Wednesday Araghchi slammed, without elaborating, "attempts by the Israeli regime and certain special interest groups to derail diplomacy" and undermine the ongoing talks with the US.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Iran was an existential threat and warned that "the fate of all humanity" was at stake if it acquired nuclear arms.
Iran has consistently denied allegations it is pursuing an atomic bomb, insisting its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
Western governments have also criticized Iran's missile program and accused it of providing Russia with weapons in its war against Ukraine.
Iran has denied the accusations, saying it has not supported any side in the conflict.
AFP
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