The meeting in Geneva would be the first face-to-face diplomatic communication with Iran since Israel’s attack
The foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany are planning to meet the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in what could represent a potential diplomatic breakthrough after five days of Israeli bombing.
The meeting is due to take place in Geneva on Friday but final confirmation from Tehran is still pending; if confirmed it would represent the first face-to-face diplomatic meeting since Benjamin Netanyahu launched Israel’s attack on Iran’s military and nuclear sites.
Araghchi spoke to the three European foreign ministers by phone earlier this week, but has so far refused to meet with Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, arguing that Israeli attacks across Iran were approved by the US. Araghchi has said it is impossible to meet Witkoff while the Iranians are under assault from Israel.
Before the planned Geneva meeting, the British foreign secretary, David Lammy, will meet the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in Washington for discussions focused “on addressing the current situation in the Middle East”.
