V658-SUIZA REUNION MINISTRO EXTERIORES IRANI

The foreign ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, plus the European Union's foreign policy chief, met at the honorary consul of Germany in Geneva on Friday (June 20) prior to planned face-to-face talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

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

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will be told that Iran must send a "clear signal," two diplomats told Reuters, with pressure mounting on Tehran to agree tough curbs on its nuclear program to prevent the potential development of an atomic weapon.

U.S. 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.

Washington did not confirm that though broadcaster CNN quoted a U.S. official saying President Donald Trump supported diplomacy from allies that could bring Iran closer to a deal.

Tehran, however, has repeatedly said it will not talk to the Trump government until Israeli attacks end.

The talks were due for mid-afternoon in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015.

Separate talks between Iran and the U.S. collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived at the Geneva venue where he is due to hold talks with European counterparts about his country's nuclear and missile programs on Friday (June 20).

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there was no room for negotiations with the U.S. "until Israeli aggression stops." But he later arrived in Geneva for talks with European foreign ministers at which Europe hopes to establish a path back to diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program.

Before the meeting with France, Britain, Germany and the European Union's foreign policy chief, two diplomats said Araqchi would be told the U.S. is still open to direct talks. But expectations for a breakthrough are low, diplomats say.

The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, plus the European Union's foreign policy chief, met separately prior to planned face-to-face talks with Araqchi.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters Iran was ready to discuss limitations on uranium enrichment but that any proposal for zero enrichment - not being able to enrich uranium at all - would be rejected, "especially now under Israel's strikes."

Israel began attacking Iran last Friday (June 13), saying its longtime enemy was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Iran, which says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JUNE 20, 2025) (AGENCY POOL - Access All)

1. FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER JEAN-NOEL BARROT, UK FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID LAMMY, GERMANY FOREIGN MINISTER JOHANN WADEPHUL AND EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY, KAJA KALLAS, MEETING INSIDE OFFICE OF HONORARY CONSUL OF GERMANY

2. MINISTERS STANDING FROM TABLE

3. VARIOUS OF BARROT, LAMMY, WADEPHUL AND KALLAS POSING

4. MINISTERS AT LUNCH TABLE

5. VARIOUS OF WADEPHUL TALKING, SITTING BESIDE BARROT

6. LAMMY AND KALLAS SEATED AT TABLE

7. VARIOUS OF LUNCH MEETING

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JUNE 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

8. WADEPHUL COMING OUT OF CAR AND ENTERING HONORARY CONSUL OF GERMANY'S PREMISES, BEFORE MEETING

9. SECURITY ON STREET

10. BARROT ARRIVING, ENTERING CONSUL PREMISES

11. AIDES ENTERING

12. CARS OUTSIDE CONSUL