European foreign ministers from the UK, France, and Germany are meeting with Iran’s top diplomat in Geneva today in a fresh effort to stop the rising conflict between Israel and Iran.
This face-to-face meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is the first direct talk between Tehran and Western leaders since Israel’s recent attack on Iran. It is also the strongest move so far by Europe to try to calm the growing tension in the region.
The talks come at a critical moment, as US President Donald Trump has announced a two-week delay before deciding whether the US will join Israeli military action against Iran. His press secretary said Trump believes there is still a “substantial chance” that diplomacy might work.
Before the latest violence, the US had been quietly working on new nuclear discussions with Iran, aiming to reach a fresh deal after Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear agreement during his first term. That earlier deal was heavily supported by Europe.
European leaders are expected to urge Iran to return to the negotiating table. Iran has said it is open to talks but will not do so while under military attack.
So far, both Israel and Iran have refused to step back. Overnight, the Israeli army said it bombed several military targets in Iran. In return, Iran launched missiles toward Israeli cities.
Emergency services in Israel confirmed that five people were injured in Beersheba, in the southern part of the country, and fires broke out near Microsoft’s offices. Iran has not confirmed any casualties on its side today.
The next two weeks are seen as crucial for diplomacy. If talks in Geneva are successful, they could help reduce the risk of a wider war in the Middle East. But if the talks fail, many fear the situation could quickly get worse.
