Friday’s meeting in Istanbul is seen as a critical step in reviving diplomacy, but whether it leads to full-scale negotiations or an eventual return to the 2015 nuclear deal remains uncertain.

Germany, France and the United Kingdom are coordinating plans to hold nuclear talks with Iran in the coming week, a German diplomatic source told Newsweek.

"In response to the request of European countries, Iran has agreed to hold a new round of talks," said Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, as quoted by State TV. "The meeting will take place at the deputy foreign minister level."