EU foreign policy chief urges talks 'as soon as possible' to end Iran's nuclear program

ISTANBUL

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday urged talks to restart "as soon as possible" to end Iran's nuclear program.

She encouraged a resumption of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and voiced Europe's "readiness" to facilitate the process.

"Any threats to pull out of the non-proliferation treaty don’t help to lower tensions. This is what I told Abbas Araghchi (Iran’s foreign minister) today," she wrote on X.

Araghchi said Saturday that Iran would bar IAEA chief Rafael Grossi from entering the country, following a 12‑day conflict between Israel and Iran that erupted June 13 when Tel Aviv launched airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear and civilian sites, killing at least 606 people and injuring 5,332, according to Iran’s Health Ministry.

Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes, killing at least 29 people and wounding more than 3,400, according to figures released by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The conflict ended under a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect June 24.