The Troika and Iran: France’s Contributions to EU3 Nuclear Diplomacy Theory Encounters the Real World of Multilateral Negotiations

[From the introduction]. Given present concerns about proliferation in the Middle East, it is useful to inquire as to the influence of a sub-group of European Union (EU) member states in the negotiation process with Iran. These negotiations, which began in 2002-2003, address the issue of nuclear diplomacy. This paper concentrates on France’s contributions within the Troika. This is a sub-group consisting of the 'big Three,' Britain, France and Germany, which focus their diplomatic efforts in a unique, ad hoc case in the Union’s external security. This analysis is a response to the lack of theoretical literature concerning the actual process of the multilateral negotiations on nuclear issues between the EU3 and Iran. In this context, we must distinguish between the early agreements that were achieved between the EU3 and Iran during 2003 and 2004, and the stalemate that followed, which led to the imposition of sanctions against Iran by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2006 and 2007