Europe re-opens Iran talks as Trump seeks two weeks to determine next steps

Europe’s top powers are engaging Iran in urgent diplomatic talks to head off a broader Middle East conflict, as US President Donald Trump signalled a two-week window to decide whether the United States will enter the Israel-Iran war.Representatives from Britain, France, and Germany known as the E3 are meeting with Iranian officials in Geneva, marking the first face-to-face talks since Israel launched military strikes on Iran a week ago. The goal: to prevent further escalation and revive international oversight of Iran’s nuclear program.
The diplomatic push comes as Trump, who is considering the US military involvement, appears to be leaning toward diplomacy — FOR NOW.
“There’s a substantial chance of negotiations… I’ll decide whether or not to go [to war] within the next two weeks,” Trump stated via White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.Behind the scenes: Diplomacy still in motion

Despite the missile exchanges between Israel and Iran, US officials have maintained backchannel communications with Tehran. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is believed to have remained in contact with Iranian counterparts.

Reviving the nuclear deal framework

At the heart of the Geneva talks is an attempt to revive the spirit of the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran’s delegation, led by diplomat Abbas Araghchi, is being asked to agree to unfettered international inspections and potential reductions in its ballistic missile arsenal. This comes after years of nuclear tension that escalated when Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 accord in 2018, prompting Iran to increase uranium enrichment. France, Germany, and the UK once instrumental in trying to salvage the deal under President Biden are now stepping back into the spotlight.

“Negotiation remains today the only way to achieve a lasting rollback of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

Tensions with Israel loom large

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed renewing diplomacy, justifying the military strikes as a necessary pre-emptive move to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capability. Still, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to convey a US message to Iran: there’s still a path to peace.

“It’s better dealt with by way of negotiations than by way of conflict,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, warning of wider regional instability.

As Europe races to revive diplomacy and President Trump delays a final decision, the world holds its breath — caught between uneasy negotiations and the threat of open conflict. In the fog of war, intentions blur and outcomes grow unpredictable. And once again, truth—like peace—hangs precariously in the balance.