Europeans hold nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva: Why US and Israel are watching with deep concern

A man rides his motorcycle past a poster displaying the portraits of Iranian military generals and nuclear scientists, killed in Israel's attack early on June 13, in Tehran on June 14, 2025.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks on Friday in Geneva with his British, French, German, and European Union counterparts. The meeting, confirmed by an AFP journalist on the ground, marks a fresh attempt by Europe to revive dialogue on Tehran’s nuclear programme, even as the region teeters on the brink due to the escalating Iran-Israel conflict.

The Geneva talks are seen as a last-ditch effort to restore diplomacy at a time when tensions are dangerously high. Israel has carried out multiple strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, reportedly killing several high-ranking commanders. In response, Iran has launched missiles and threatened to accelerate its nuclear activities, bringing the region closer to a direct, prolonged war.

European foreign ministers will tell their Iranian counterpart on Friday that the U.S. is open to direct talks even as it considers joining Israeli strikes intended to smash Tehran's nuclear capacity, Reuters quoted diplomats as saying before a meeting in Geneva.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to several Western counterparts prior to the Geneva meeting, the diplomats said, indicating readiness to engage directly with Tehran.

Why these talks matter now

Tehran’s nuclear programme has long been a flashpoint in global diplomacy, particularly since the US unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. That move fractured the fragile agreement that had kept Iran’s uranium enrichment levels and stockpiles in check.

Since then, Iran has progressively walked away from its JCPOA commitments, enriching uranium far beyond the permitted limits, operating advanced centrifuges, and restricting international inspections. The current talks in Geneva come at a moment when Iran is believed to be just weeks, if not days, away from achieving weapons-grade uranium enrichment capacity.

European Union’s role

Europe is trying to act as a buffer — the last neutral ground for meaningful diplomatic engagement. The so-called E3 (Britain, France, and Germany), along with the EU foreign policy establishment, are focused on two parallel goals:

• Preventing Iran from crossing the nuclear weapons threshold.
• Preventing the regional war from spilling over into a prolonged, destabilizing crisis.

Why Israel is watching

Israel is deeply skeptical of the Geneva talks, with Prime Minister Netanyahu warning that diplomacy has failed to stop Iran’s nuclear progress. He says Israel is ready to act alone if needed.

Israel has already launched strikes that reportedly killed several IRGC commanders, and there are signs it may target key sites like the Fordow nuclear facility near Qom.

Israeli officials fear Iran is using the talks to buy time while speeding up uranium enrichment and strengthening its defences. Many in Israel’s defense circles believe the window to stop Iran from going nuclear is closing — and only decisive action will make a difference.

The US dilemma

The US isn’t part of the Geneva talks but is watching closely. President Trump faces a tough balance: avoid another Middle East war ahead of elections, while standing firmly by Israel.

US officials say Trump has asked if the Massive Ordnance Penetrator — a powerful bunker-buster bomb — could destroy Iran’s Fordow nuclear site if needed. This shows military options are being considered.

For Washington, the Geneva talks offer a chance to avoid conflict, but that depends on Iran showing restraint, which Israeli intelligence says isn’t happening.