GENEVA: Iran, Britain, France and Germany have agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue "in the near future", a senior Iranian diplomat said following "candid" talks on Friday focused on Tehran's nuclear programme.
"We are firmly committed to pursue the interests of our people, and our preference is the path of dialogue and engagement," Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said on X.
Meanwhile, the risk of Iranian nuclear proliferation is a serious threat in coming months and Britain and France are working out strategies to prepare for such an event, the head of France's foreign intelligence service said on Friday.
"Our services are working side by side to face what is undoubtedly one of the threats, if not to say the most critical threat, in the coming months - the possible atomic proliferation in Iran," Nicolas Lerner said at the British embassy in Geneva.
His rare public comments come as Iran and European powers meet in Geneva to discuss Iran's nuclear programme, the situation in the Middle East, and Tehran's ties with Russia amid the war in Ukraine. "The intelligence of intelligence will be crucial to enable our authorities to make the right decisions and define the right strategies," he said.
Social media exchanges following a meeting in Geneva on Thursday between Iranian and European Union diplomats meanwhile hinted at the atmosphere ahead of Friday's talks.
Enrique Mora, the EU's second highest-ranking diplomat, described on X a "frank exchange" with Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, two deputies to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
He said the discussion had revolved around "Iran's military support to Russia that has to stop, the nuclear issue that needs a diplomatic solution, regional tensions (important to avoid further escalation from all sides) and human rights".
Gharibabadi also described the encounter on X as "frank", decrying that "Europe has failed to be a serious player" on the nuclear issue, after the Washington in 2018 broke off an international agreement and unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
Iran's s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs also urged the EU to "abandon its self-centred and irresponsible behaviour" on a range of issues including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. - Reuters
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