France, Britain and Germany met with Iran on Tuesday in a bid to revive diplomacy over its nuclear program before they lose the ability to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Tehran.

The trio, collectively known as the E3, is ready to trigger a so-called snapback of UN sanctions in the coming days, citing allegations that Iran violated the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

However, they have indicated they could delay this move for a limited time if Iran resumes UN inspections and engages in broader talks, including with the United States.

The UN Security Council would have to extend a 2015 UN Security Council resolution that enshrined the nuclear deal, which is set to expire on October 18. The E3 would lose the ability to trigger a snapback of UN sanctions.

Tehran has warned of a "harsh response" if sanctions are reinstated. Talks between the E3 and Iran are tense as Tehran attributed the bombing in June of its nuclear facilities to the U.S. and Israel.

"It is time for the E3 and the UN Security Council to make the right choice and give diplomacy the time and space it needs," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in a post on X after the meeting. 

Differing expectations

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said talks with the E3 will continue in the coming days.

Western officials said they suspect Iran has returned to negotiating tactics aimed at delaying talks.

"We are going to see whether the Iranians are credible about an extension or whether they are messing us around. We want to see whether they have made any progress on the conditions we set to extend," said an E3 official, speaking on condition of anonymity, before Tuesday's talks.

Israel and the United States said their strike targeted Iran's uranium enrichment sites because the country was making such rapid advances towards the ability to produce a nuclear weapon.

Tehran denies any intention to develop atomic bombs. While Iran's enrichment plants were badly damaged or destroyed in the June war, Tehran has not granted the IAEA access to them since then, arguing that it is not safe for inspectors. The status and whereabouts of Iran's large stockpile of enriched uranium are also unclear.

"Due to the damage to our nuclear sites, we need to agree on a new plan with the agency and we've conveyed that to IAEA officials," one Iranian official said.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told Fox News on Tuesday that "the first team of IAEA inspectors is back in Iran," but that the agency was still discussing with Tehran the practical modalities of resuming inspections.