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Iran, Europe gamble on fresh talks in Geneva to resolve nuclear deal deadlock

The upcoming negotiations in Geneva follow a two-year hiatus in Iran's nuclear diplomacy, reviving cautious optimism regarding potential economic relief while also highlighting the pressure Tehran is facing in the wake of Donald Trump's new tenure.

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start works on a second reactor at the facility.
A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start works on a second reactor at the facility. — ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

TEHRAN — Iran has confirmed that its negotiators will sit down with counterparts from three major European powers for a new round of talks after two years of deadlocked diplomacy to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, confirmed this week that the negotiations will be held on Friday and will cover a range of discussions, including regional developments and Iran's nuclear program. 

Iran's meeting in Geneva with diplomats from Britain, Germany and France is taking place after the three countries successfully pushed a resolution last week at the International Atomic Energy Agency censuring Tehran's failure to fully cooperate with the international monitors. 

However, the Iranian spokesman dismissed speculation that the upcoming talks had been prompted by the resolution, saying preparations had already been made in September during a New York trip taken by President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi for the UN General Assembly.  

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