Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meets with UN officials to discuss nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with United Nations officials Tuesday in New York to discuss the stalled nuclear talks aimed at restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. According to Iranian sources, the meeting focused on advancing negotiations amid Tehran’s insistence that Washington demonstrate “realism” and provide sanctions relief to move forward.

Amir-Abdollahian’s meeting with United Nations officials follows ongoing diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has been stalled since the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018. Iranian sources said the discussions centered on advancing negotiations amid Tehran’s insistence that Washington demonstrate “realism” and provide sanctions relief as a precondition for progress.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera on March 29, 2023, Amir-Abdollahian indicated that Iran might impose a legal timeframe on the nuclear talks, reflecting pressure from some members of Iran’s parliament.

He explained that several lawmakers expressed frustration with the prolonged negotiations and suggested that the government should not remain indefinitely engaged in the JCPOA talks. Amir-Abdollahian noted that parliamentary factions were considering proposals and legislation that could complicate the government’s diplomatic efforts, signaling possible domestic constraints on the negotiation process.

Iran’s foreign minister referred to the 2015 deal by its formal name and reiterated Tehran’s position that an agreement was achievable if the American side approached the talks with “realism.” According to Iranian officials, Iran seeks sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program but has consistently rejected demands for a complete end to uranium enrichment. Tehran’s stance, as outlined by Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, emphasizes reciprocity and respect for Iran’s rights under the nuclear framework.

Technical discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) remain ongoing, according to Amir-Abdollahian, who said Iran intends to continue its collaboration with the global nuclear watchdog. While specific details of those technical talks were not disclosed, the IAEA continues to play a central role in monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities and verifying compliance-related measures. The agency’s engagement has been a key parallel track alongside political negotiations.

Renewed Iran-U.S. negotiations in 2025 produced several rounds of talks, including a May 23 meeting in Rome described by sources as constructive but ultimately unresolved. Reporting indicated that the core dispute remained the U.S. demand that Iran dismantle its uranium enrichment program. By August 2025, the E3 countries—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—invoked the United Nations snapback mechanism, citing Iran’s non-performance under the JCPOA. Crisis Group reporting stated that the E3 had offered Iran a limited extension of relevant UN Security Council Resolution 2231 provisions in exchange for resuming negotiations, but Iran had not responded to that offer.

A later Iranian readout cited in Crisis Group reports said both sides outlined their views on UNSCR 2231. Iran publicly affirmed its commitment to diplomacy and a “mutually beneficial diplomatic solution.” Meanwhile, the E3 warned that if Iran did not reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, they were prepared to trigger snapback sanctions. Iran’s vice president dismissed U.S. demands for zero uranium enrichment as “a joke” and stated that Iran was ready for negotiations “under equal conditions” if suitable conditions existed.

The JCPOA, signed in 2015, aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 led to a period of stalled diplomacy, with Iran increasing its nuclear activities beyond the deal’s limits. Iranian officials have maintained that they remain open to talks but only if Washington shows “realism” and offers sanctions relief. Amir-Abdollahian’s comments in early 2023 highlighted Tehran’s willingness to continue diplomatic engagement while signaling that the “window for discussions” would not remain open indefinitely.

The IAEA continues to be the main institutional actor in monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities, and Iran has said it will maintain technical cooperation with the agency as political negotiations proceed. The evolving diplomatic landscape, including parliamentary pressures and international responses, frames the ongoing challenges in restoring the JCPOA.