The decision followed a joint phone call on Friday between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his counterparts from France, the UK, and Germany (known as the E3), during which they agreed deputy ministers would meet on Tuesday. Araghchi warned of consequences if sanctions were restored.

The French and German foreign ministers also confirmed that Iran and the E3 will meet again next week on the nuclear issue, after talks in Istanbul on July 25 ended with an agreement to continue consultations on sanctions and nuclear matters.

France, Germany and the UK were signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) alongside the United States, China, Russia and the European Union. The pact required Iran to limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. In 2018, then-US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal and reimposed sanctions.