Iranian FM Criticizes EU Pressure to Speed Up Resumption of Nuclear Talks

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian (Reuters)
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian (Reuters)
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Iranian FM Criticizes EU Pressure to Speed Up Resumption of Nuclear Talks

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian (Reuters)
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian (Reuters)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian criticized European "pressure" to speed up negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Amirabdollahian discussed bilateral cooperation with the European Union (EU) during his meeting with High Representative Josep Borrell on the margins of the UN General Assembly on 21 September.

The meeting focused on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), climate change, trade, security, and migration, and human rights issues.

The High Representative stressed the need for full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resolve outstanding issues and reiterated his concern about the overall trajectory of the Iranian nuclear program.

Borrell underlined the "great importance of a quick resumption" of the Vienna talks and said in a statement: "The Iranian Foreign Minister assured of the willingness to resume negotiations at an early date."

The EU mission to the UN reported that the meeting followed up on the officials' first phone conversation on 31 August.

Amirabdollahian praised Borrell's efforts in following up the course of the Vienna negotiations but criticized the European troika's pressure to resume the talks, according to a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The statement indicated that the foreign minister thanked Borrel for his efforts in pursuing the nuclear talks, saying the US is one hundred percent mistaken if it thinks pressures on Iran will pay off.

"The European Troika has also steadily called on Iran to return to the negotiating table instead of pressuring the US, which has been violating the JCPOA, into returning to its commitments," according to the statement.

Amirabdollahian emphasized that the behavior and policies of the Biden administration have so far been unconstructive to Iran and the nuclear deal.

"Biden has in words criticized Trump's policies, but in practice, he is pursuing the same policies toward Iran."

On Afghanistan, the Iranian FM referred to the high number of Afghan refugees in Iran.

The High Representative underlined the EU's willingness to engage actively with regional partners to address the challenges of the present situation.

European sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that there are no plans to hold multilateral meetings with the Iranian side in New York at present, explaining that the sessions are "limited to bilateral meetings" between Amirabdollahian and several officials of the countries concerned with the nuclear issue with Iran.

They stressed that the Vienna talks are the most appropriate forum for Iran and the US to return to their commitments under JCPOA.



France Accuses Iran of ‘Repression’ in Sentence for Nobel Laureate

People cross an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP)
People cross an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP)
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France Accuses Iran of ‘Repression’ in Sentence for Nobel Laureate

People cross an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP)
People cross an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP)

France accused Iran on Monday of "repression and intimidation" after a court handed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi a new six-year prison sentence on charges of harming national security.

Mohammadi, sentenced Saturday, was also handed a one-and-a-half-year prison sentence for "propaganda" against Iran's system, according to her foundation.

"With this sentence, the Iranian regime has, once again, chosen repression and intimidation," the French foreign ministry said in a statement, describing the 53-year-old as a "tireless defender" of human rights.

Paris is calling for the release of the activist, who was arrested before protests erupted nationwide in December after speaking out against the government at a funeral ceremony.

The movement peaked in January as authorities launched a crackdown that activists say has left thousands dead.

Over the past quarter-century, Mohammadi has been repeatedly tried and jailed for her vocal campaigning against Iran's use of capital punishment and the mandatory dress code for women.

Mohammadi has spent much of the past decade behind bars and has not seen her twin children, who live in Paris, since 2015.

Iranian authorities have arrested more than 50,000 people as part of their crackdown on protests, according to US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).


Iran's Supreme Leader Urges Iranians to Show 'Resolve' against Foreign Pressure

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
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Iran's Supreme Leader Urges Iranians to Show 'Resolve' against Foreign Pressure

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Monday called on his compatriots to show "resolve" ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution this week.

Since the revolution, "foreign powers have always sought to restore the previous situation", Ali Khamenei said, referring to the period when Iran was under the rule of shah Reza Pahlavi and dependent on the United States, AFP reported.

"National power is less about missiles and aircraft and more about the will and steadfastness of the people," the leader said, adding: "Show it again and frustrate the enemy."


UK PM's Communications Director Quits

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
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UK PM's Communications Director Quits

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's director of communications Tim Allan resigned on Monday, a day after Starmer's top aide Morgan McSweeney quit over his role in backing Peter Mandelson over his known links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The loss of two senior aides ⁠in quick succession comes as Starmer tries to draw a line under the crisis in his government resulting from his appointment of Mandelson as ambassador to the ⁠US.

"I have decided to stand down to allow a new No10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success," Allan said in a statement on Monday.

Allan served as an adviser to Tony Blair from ⁠1992 to 1998 and went on to found and lead one of the country’s foremost public affairs consultancies in 2001. In September 2025, he was appointed executive director of communications at Downing Street.