Europe is preparing to present Iran with a comprehensive offer in an effort to halt its ongoing conflict with Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed that Iran suspend uranium enrichment, curb its ballistic missile development, and cease funding groups labelled as terrorist organisations. The offer, ambitious in scope, touches on deeply entrenched disputes and appears to extend well beyond the nuclear issue alone. Nonetheless, Macron stressed that diplomacy remains the most viable path forward, warning against the limitations of military solutions.
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Talks in Geneva marked the first in-person engagement between Iranian officials and Western diplomats since Israel’s sudden offensive against Iran began. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, reiterated that dialogue with the United States would not proceed while Israeli strikes continue. The backdrop to these talks is one of escalating violence, with Israel and Iran trading attacks and the United States delaying decisions on potential military involvement. Despite consultations with the US, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and other European leaders have emphasised the importance of de-escalation and renewed negotiations.
The nuclear issue remains a central point of contention. While Iran asserts its right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, European powers maintain a more cautious interpretation. Macron argued for a return to substantive negotiations, warning that highly fortified nuclear facilities like Fordow cannot be neutralised through force alone. He advocated for international oversight and technical expertise to restore control over Iran’s nuclear programme, amid fears that enrichment levels may already exceed 60%.
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However, some analysts have warned that the current European approach risks alienating Tehran. Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on Foreign Relations cautioned against imposing excessive demands that echo, or surpass, the hard-line stance previously taken by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, allegations of an Israeli plot to assassinate Araghchi, and Russia’s rejected offer to mediate, further complicate the diplomatic landscape. As tensions rise, even reformist voices within Iran suggest that sovereignty over enrichment must be balanced against the potential devastation of continued conflict.
