Iran Signals Openness to Diplomacy if Israeli Attacks Stop

 Iran Signals Openness to Diplomacy if Israeli Attacks Stop

Iran has said it is open to returning to diplomatic talks — but only if Israel halts its military actions and is held responsible for its “crimes.” The announcement came from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi after a round of high-stakes discussions in Geneva with European officials on Friday.

“Iran is prepared to re-engage in diplomacy once the aggression stops and the aggressor is held accountable,” Araghchi said, referring to Israel’s ongoing strikes. He added that Tehran is willing to continue discussions with Britain, France, Germany, and the European Union, and looks forward to future meetings.

Despite the backdrop of escalating violence — with Iran firing missiles at the Israeli city of Haifa, injuring at least 19 people, and Israel continuing its attacks on Iranian missile sites — European diplomats remained cautiously hopeful.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said after the Geneva meeting that Iran had shown readiness to keep the dialogue going: “The positive takeaway is that Iran seems open to discussing key issues further.” He also emphasized the need for the U.S. to be part of any long-term solution.

The joint statement delivered by the European diplomats stopped short of declaring any concrete progress but underscored a collective desire to prevent further escalation.

Israel, meanwhile, said it had carried out more strikes on Iranian military targets in the country’s southwest, continuing a campaign it launched last week, aimed — according to Israeli officials — at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Tehran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear arms.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged restraint, calling the situation “perilous.” He said the UK remains committed to negotiations and stressed that a broader regional conflict must be avoided.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot echoed this view, warning that military action can only delay — not resolve — nuclear tensions. He also condemned threats against Iranian leadership, saying, “Forcing regime change from the outside is not only unrealistic but dangerous.”

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas added, “Nobody benefits from this rising tension. We need to keep the channels of communication open.”

Iran’s state media reinforced the message that the country has not walked away from diplomacy. According to IRNA, Iranian negotiators stated that Tehran remains at the table — despite the mounting violence.

As the situation teeters on the edge, both Iran and Israel continue to trade missile strikes, while Europe scrambles to hold onto the last threads of diplomacy.