Istanbul: A new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear file concluded Friday evening at the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul, bringing together a high-level Iranian delegation and representatives of the European Troika (Britain, France, and Germany).

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Iranian side was led by Deputy Foreign Ministers Kazem Gharibabadi and Majid Takht Ravanchi. The two sides discussed recent developments regarding the nuclear issue and Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In a press statement following the meeting, Gharibabadi stated, “We held serious, frank, and detailed discussions with the European Troika, and we agreed to continue consultations going forward.”

Meanwhile, a European diplomatic source revealed that the European parties are prepared to trigger the mechanism for reimposing sanctions on Tehran should the negotiations fail, urging Iran to resume full cooperation with the IAEA.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the meeting as “an opportunity to test the Troika’s realism and to correct its unconstructive stance on the nuclear issue.” He expressed hope that Britain, France, and Germany would take the chance to reconsider their previous positions.

Tehran had previously threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the European parties moved to reinstate UN sanctions, holding the IAEA partially responsible for Israeli and U.S. strikes that targeted Iranian territory.

It is worth noting that Iran officially suspended all forms of cooperation with the UN agency earlier this July.