By TV84.pk News Desk | September 23, 2025
UNITED NATIONS – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized diplomacy as the sole path to resolving the decades-long nuclear dispute with Western powers, speaking to Iranian state TV on Monday. As tensions escalate with the looming threat of UN sanctions, Araqchi urged Britain, France, and Germany (the E3) to choose “cooperation over confrontation” during critical talks this week.
E3’s Push for Sanctions
On August 28, the E3 initiated a 30-day process to reinstate UN sanctions, accusing Iran of violating the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), designed to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief. The move follows Iran’s restricted access for UN inspectors and its growing stockpile of enriched uranium, which the West fears could be weaponized.
Araqchi, in New York for the UN General Assembly, announced he would meet his European counterparts and IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. “They have tested Iran repeatedly and know we do not respond to the language of pressure and threat,” he said, expressing hope for a diplomatic breakthrough. “I hope we can find a solution in the coming days, otherwise Tehran will take appropriate measures.”
Diplomatic Window or Deadlock?
The E3 has offered to delay sanctions for up to six months if Iran complies with key demands: restoring UN nuclear inspectors’ access, addressing concerns over enriched uranium, and resuming talks with the United States. However, two European diplomats told Reuters that Iran’s clerical leadership has yet to meet these conditions. “The ball is in Iran’s camp,” one diplomat said. “It must take concrete steps quickly to avert snapback, or sanctions will be reimposed.”
Stakes and Standoff
The talks come at a pivotal moment, with the E3’s deadline approaching and Iran signaling readiness to escalate if pressured. Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile, reported by the IAEA to be 60% purity—close to weapons-grade—has heightened Western concerns. Iran insists its program is for peaceful energy purposes, but distrust persists after the U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, prompting Iran to scale back compliance.
With global powers watching, this week’s meetings could determine whether diplomacy prevails or sanctions trigger a deeper crisis. Araqchi’s warning underscores Iran’s defiance, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.
