Diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Iran
A week into their war, Israel and Iran exchanged more strikes on Friday as new diplomatic efforts led by the Europeans took place in Geneva. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held several hours of talks with the European Union’s top diplomat and counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
A meeting of the foreign ministers of three European countries with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, came to an end Wednesday in Geneva, with the ministers from Germany and France voicing hope over future talks.
Britain’s foreign secretary said after several hours of talks Friday between top European diplomats and their Iranian counterparts that the Europeans are keen to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the Europeans were clear in talks in Geneva that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that very serious talks were held Friday with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi.
The positive outcome today is that we are leaving with the impression that the Iranian side is fundamentally willing to continue talks on all important issues, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said. “The entire region is in an extremely critical situation, and it is our common endeavor to avoid further escalation and to make progress in the negotiations.
He added that while Europeans should be involved in these talks, Washington also had an important role to play.
Above all, it is of great importance that the United States of America be involved in these negotiations and in finding a solution, Germany’s top diplomat said, adding that Germany would safeguard Israel’s security interests.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy voiced similar impressions of the meeting, saying the Iranians are prepared to continue discussions, with the latter saying they made it clear that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.
While Iran maintains that its nuclear program serves civilian rather than military purposes, analysts and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which inspects nuclear facilities, have questioned and criticized the Iranian claims.
