Blinken Met With European Counterparts Friday To Discuss Iran Deal

Secretary Of State Antony Blinken with French FM Yves Le Drian earlier this year.
Secretary Of State Antony Blinken with French FM Yves Le Drian earlier this year.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday held a "productive" meeting with counterparts from Britain, Germany and France, including a discussion of the Iran nuclear deal.

Talks between Iran and world powers over reviving a 2015 nuclear deal resumed in Vienna on Thursday.

"Secretary Blinken had a productive meeting with his E3 counterparts from Germany, France, and the UK in Liverpool yesterday. They discussed the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) talks and our way forward,” a State Department spokesperson said on Saturday.

After months of negotiations earlier this year, Iran’s new hardline government presented new demands in talks last week that led to pessimism over the outcome of diplomatic efforts to revive the JCPOA. The United States and its European allies have warned Iran that there little time left to reach an agreement, given Iran rapid nuclear advances.

The meeting took place in the northern English city of Liverpool on the eve of a G7 foreign ministers' meeting which is expected to result in a joint call for Iran to moderate its nuclear program and grasp the opportunity of talks in Vienna.

Reporting by Reuters