Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei announced on Wednesday that senior diplomats from Iran and the three European parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement will meet this Friday in Istanbul, Turkey.

The talks are part of ongoing efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and explore ways to resolve outstanding differences, including those tied to indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States.

Baqaei, speaking on the sidelines of the Tehran International Book Fair, confirmed that the discussions will involve representatives from Britain, France, and Germany—collectively known as the European troika or E3. The upcoming Istanbul meeting marks the fourth round of such consultations between Iran and the E3.

While the Iranian Foreign Ministry has disclosed the date and location of the meeting, European capitals have yet to release official statements regarding their participation. A previous round of talks, originally scheduled for May 3 in Rome, was postponed without public explanation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi recently stated that the meeting would be held "at the level of deputy foreign ministers," indicating the seriousness of the diplomatic engagement. The agenda will reportedly include both the future of the JCPOA and broader regional security issues.

The renewed diplomatic push comes amid growing international concern over Iran's advancing nuclear program and the ongoing deadlock in direct U.S.-Iran negotiations. While the Vienna talks to restore the JCPOA have stalled for months, Tehran and European powers appear committed to keeping dialogue open in pursuit of a potential breakthrough.

Friday’s meeting in Istanbul is expected to be closely watched by international observers for signs of movement in a long-stalled diplomatic process that continues to shape regional and global stability. (ILKHA)