Overview

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed Friday's meeting in Istanbul with diplomats from Britain, France, and Germany (E3) to discuss the framework of a revived nuclear agreement.
• The talks come as Oman prepares to announce a fifth round of U.S.-Iran negotiations, following a challenging fourth round focused on uranium enrichment on May 11.
• European powers are considering triggering the UN snapback mechanism to reimpose sanctions on Iran by August if no substantive progress is made.
• The E3 opted to proceed with the Istanbul talks after postponing a May 2 meeting, aiming to maintain dialogue and clarify their vision for a new nuclear deal.
• Tensions remain high as Iran seeks to counter U.S. and European pressure over its nuclear program, while relations have deteriorated due to sanctions and geopolitical disputes.