EU Warns Sanctions on Iran Should Not End Diplomacy

The European Union’s top diplomat said on Sunday that the return of international sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program “must not be the end of diplomacy.”

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed that while the bloc will align with the UN in reimposing sanctions, “a sustainable solution to the Iranian nuclear issue can only be achieved through negotiations.”

The foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany echoed that stance in a joint statement, pledging to pursue “a new diplomatic solution to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”

Tehran rejected the move as illegitimate. “The reactivation of annulled resolutions is legally baseless and unjustifiable,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, urging states not to recognize “this illegal situation.” It warned that any attempt to undermine Iran’s rights would face a “firm and appropriate response.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Iran to accept “direct talks, held in good faith” and urged UN member states to enforce sanctions “to pressure Iran’s leaders to do what is right for their nation, and best for the safety of the world.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed renewed talks, warning against negotiations that would “cause new problems.”