Iran and European Powers Engage in Crucial Nuclear Talks

Iran and European powers met in Istanbul for in-depth discussions on nuclear issues, aiming to renew the 2015 nuclear deal. The E3 and Iran exchanged proposals on sanctions relief and cooperation with the U.N.'s IAEA. Upcoming deadlines loom for extending diplomatic efforts and sanctions mechanisms.

Iran announced it will continue nuclear discussions with European powers following 'serious, frank, and detailed' meetings held on Friday, marking the first such face-to-face encounter since a recent military strike from Israel and the U.S.

The meeting took place in Istanbul, involving delegations from the European Union alongside the E3 group, consisting of France, Britain, and Germany, who engaged with Iranian officials at Iran's consulate. The U.N. nuclear watchdog noted this interaction could be a step towards resuming inspections in Iran.

With a crucial October 18 deadline approaching for the current resolution overseeing the 2015 nuclear deal, efforts to extend this resolution are ongoing. The E3 has expressed hope to resume diplomacy by the end of August, pushing Iran to take significant actions, such as cooperation with the IAEA and accounting for highly enriched uranium.

(With inputs from agencies.)