EU's Kallas holds first talks with Iranian FM on nuclear programme

European Union Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, held her first conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, since assuming her position on December 1 last year. 

Kallas stated on X that the discussion focused on Iran’s nuclear programme, Caliber.Az reports.

“Spoke with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi to stress EU support for diplomacy on the nuclear issue and regional de-escalation. I called on Iran to stop military support to Russia and raised concerns over detained EU citizens and human rights. EU-Iran ties hinge on progress in all areas," she stated.

To recall, as of May 2025, diplomatic efforts to address tensions over Iran's nuclear program have involved multiple rounds of indirect negotiations, but significant obstacles remain. In early 2025, the U.S., under President Biden, began indirect talks with Iran through intermediaries like Oman to potentially revive or revise the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the U.S. abandoned in 2018. The goal was to limit Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for easing sanctions.

However, the talks have been complicated by Iran’s distrust of the U.S. following its exit from the JCPOA and its "maximum pressure" campaign. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, insists any new deal must address regional security and ensure the U.S. doesn't abandon it again. The Biden administration has faced challenges balancing diplomatic efforts with concerns from allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia, who see Iran's nuclear advancements as a direct threat.

The U.N. has called for renewed negotiations, but talks in Vienna and Oman have faltered. Iran has refused to make significant concessions, and the U.S. faces domestic pressure not to ease sanctions without Iranian compliance. The IAEA has warned that its ability to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities is being hindered. Despite the potential for direct talks, the lack of trust and growing uranium enrichment suggest a swift resolution remains unlikely.

By Aghakazim Guliyev