UPDATE - Iranian, European officials meet in Istanbul for nuclear talks

CHANGES DECK, LEDE, UPDATES WITH IRANIAN OFFICIAL’S STATEMENT

By Merve Berker, Ahmet Dursun, and Ikram Kouachi

ANKARA / ISTANBUL / TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Iranian and European officials on Friday discussed the status of Iran’s nuclear program and ways to prevent further escalation in Istanbul.

Following a meeting between deputy foreign ministers of Iran, the UK, France, and Germany at the Iranian Consulate General in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that discussions centered around Iran-US negotiations.

“We exchanged views and discussed the latest state of play on nuclear and sanctions lifting indirect negotiations,” said Gharibabadi in a statement.

He added that “Iran and the E3 are determined to sustain and make the best use of diplomacy,” noting: “We will meet again, as appropriate, to continue our dialogue.”

There was no immediate European statement regarding the meeting.

A planned meeting between Iran and the E3 in Rome on May 2 was canceled following the postponement of indirect Iran-US nuclear negotiations.

Iran remains concerned that the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal may trigger the so-called “snapback mechanism,” which would reinstate UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the agreement.

This mechanism expires on Oct. 18.

If no diplomatic solution is reached before then, European nations are expected to consider invoking the clause.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned in a May 11 op-ed in French daily Le Point that abusing the snapback mechanism could escalate tensions irreversibly and “mark not only the end of Europe’s role in the agreement, but also a dangerous turning point.”

He also called on European nations to hold further nuclear dialogue with Iran.