Sun Nov 24 18:55:09 UTC 2024: ## Iran to Hold Nuclear Talks Amid IAEA Condemnation and Rising Tensions
**Vienna/London** – Iran will hold talks with officials from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom this Friday to discuss its nuclear program, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday. The meeting comes just days after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a resolution condemning Iran for a lack of cooperation with its inspectors.
The IAEA resolution, passed Thursday with 19 votes in favor, 12 abstentions, and opposition from Russia, China, and Burkina Faso, marks the third such censure since 2020. The three European nations participating in Friday’s talks were among those voting for the resolution.
While Iran stated the meeting will cover a range of regional issues including Palestine and Lebanon, the nuclear program is a central concern. The location of the meeting remains undisclosed.
Tensions escalated further on Friday when Iran announced it would deploy advanced centrifuges to significantly increase its uranium enrichment capacity. Despite this, Iran insists it remains committed to cooperating with the IAEA. However, leaked IAEA reports suggest Iran is nearing the 90 percent uranium enrichment threshold required for a nuclear warhead.
The UK Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, stating it will utilize all diplomatic avenues, including potential sanctions “snapback” mechanisms, if necessary.
The current situation stems from the 2018 US withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which led to the reimposition of sanctions on Iran and a subsequent reduction in Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA, alongside an increase in its uranium stockpile. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
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