Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that deputy foreign ministers from Iran and the three European countries—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—will meet in Istanbul on Friday, July 25 to hold critical discussions concerning Iran’s nuclear program.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the meeting aims to revive dialogue on the future of Iran's nuclear development and to address concerns over sanctions, enrichment activities, and international monitoring. This initiative comes after months of strained relations and suspended negotiations with Western powers.

The diplomatic overture follows a period of escalated military conflict triggered by what Tehran called unprovoked aggression by the Israeli regime. On June 13, Israeli forces launched a series of aerial and missile strikes targeting Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian infrastructure, plunging the region into turmoil. The bombardment, which lasted 12 consecutive days, prompted Iran to respond with significant military retaliation.

On June 22, the United States entered the conflict, targeting three major Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan—a move that further escalated tensions. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out 22 waves of missile attacks under Operation True Promise III, striking multiple strategic and civilian locations across the occupied Palestinian territories, resulting in what Iranian officials described as “heavy material and human losses” for the Zionist regime.

The conflict also widened geographically. In retaliation for the U.S. strikes, Iranian forces launched missiles at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military installation in the region, signaling a direct challenge to American presence in West Asia.

After weeks of fierce military exchanges, a ceasefire agreement came into effect on June 24, halting the fighting and opening space for renewed diplomatic dialogue. The upcoming meeting in Istanbul is widely viewed as a litmus test for whether the European parties can mediate a return to the 2015 nuclear deal framework (JCPOA) or help chart a new path forward.

The previously ongoing indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman, had reached their fifth round before the Israeli aggression derailed progress. Those negotiations were being led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Analysts believe the Istanbul summit could be a turning point in the region's diplomatic landscape—either reigniting nuclear diplomacy or reinforcing geopolitical divides. Iran has made clear that while it remains committed to diplomatic engagement, it will not compromise on its sovereign defense and deterrence capabilities.

With tensions still simmering and military forces on high alert, the world watches closely as the July 25 meeting in Istanbul may determine whether peace and diplomacy can reassert themselves in a region shaken by weeks of violent confrontation. (ILKHA)