Iran May See Sanctions Eased If Nuclear Talks Resume, Say Sources
Iran has signaled a willingness to resume nuclear negotiations—overcoming recent tensions—on the condition that the U.S. and European powers address key Iranian demands. In return, Tehran suggests sanctions relief may follow if the talks progress effectively .
Conditions Set by Tehran
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi underscored that resumption hinges on several assurances:
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Recognition of Iran’s rights under the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including uranium enrichment for civilian use.
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U.S. trust-building, with guarantees that resumed talks won’t serve as a pretext for renewed military action against Iran.
Additional demands include clarity on the mechanisms and timelines for sanctions relief
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed these themes, emphasizing Iran’s right to enrichment and warning of escalating conflict unless the U.S. ensures no repeat of strikes following the Israeli and U.S. bombardments on its nuclear sites in June.
Diplomatic Context: High Stakes, Tight Deadlines
European powers Britain, France, and Germany (the E3) are initiating talks in Istanbul, marking the first such engagement since June’s Iran-Israel conflict. These talks aim to assess Iran’s willingness to reverse course and avoid the “snapback” mechanism, whereby UN sanctions automatically reapply by early October if the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) conditions aren’t met.
The E3 have set a de facto deadline of end‑August for concrete progress. Should Iran fail to engage meaningfully, they plan to move to reimpose full UN sanctions via snapback—a step Tehran has repeatedly criticized and threatened to retaliate against by potentially leaving the NPT.
Path to Sanctions Relief
International observers note that Iran’s offer to resume talks essentially functions as a gateway to sanctions rollback, similar to the 2015 JCPOA: Iran would rein in uranium enrichment, restore IAEA cooperation, and take steps toward transparency, while the U.S. and E3 begin easing economic restrictions
Iran’s proposals reportedly include:
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Temporarily reducing enrichment to 3.67% purity, in exchange for access to frozen assets and oil exports.
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A phased commitment to curtail enrichment, enhance inspection regimes, and eliminate secondary sanctions.
Domestic Pressure and Regional Stakes
Under strained economic conditions marked by inflation over 40% and mass poverty, Iran faces severe pressure to regain access to global oil markets and financial systems. Meanwhile, Tehran views engagement as essential to counter both economic collapse and regional isolation.
Despite enhancing enrichment to near 60%—levels seen as concerning by Western powers—Iran insists its program remains peaceful and imperative for national development and sovereignty.
Outlook
As of July 25, 2025, high-level diplomacy enters a critical phase:
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Iran’s willingness to resume talks could unlock phased sanctions relief, contingent on compliance and transparency.
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But failure to meet European and U.S. conditions may trigger snapback sanctions by end-August.
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The trajectory of these talks could determine whether sanctions ease or resume, influencing not just Tehran’s economy, but broader regional stability