Three European powers met with an Iranian minister to try to reopen negotiations over the limits of its nuclear activities.

European and Iranian diplomats have arrived in Istanbul in a renewed effort to resolve the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program. The talks mark the first formal engagement since June's 12-day war between Iran and Israel, a conflict that included U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and heightened tensions across the region.

Iran said it would continue nuclear talks with European powers after "serious, frank, and detailed" conversations on Friday, the first such face-to-face meeting since Israel and the U.S. bombed Iran last month.

The U.S. wants Iran to end all uranium enrichment. The European nations have yet to make clear their position. The JCPOA limited Iran to enriching uranium up to 3.67% purity -- sufficient for civilian nuclear power purposes but below the 90% purity needed for use in a weapon.

Iran and European powers agree they need to hold another round of nuclear talks soon following discussions in Istanbul on Friday, said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi.

Diplomatic meeting in Istanbul between Tehran and E3 countries is first since Israel and US attacked Iran in mid-June.

Iran says it is ready to engage in talks with the United States, but only if Washington takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust.

Iranian diplomats said they held "frank and detailed" nuclear talks on Friday with counterparts from Germany, Britain and France, who have threatened to trigger sanctions if Tehran fails to agree a deal on uranium enrichment and cooperation with UN inspectors.

Iranian and European officials will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday as tensions simmer over Tehran’s nuclear program after it was targeted by a US military strike last month.

Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment. If talks fail to get back on track, there is a higher risk of further military action against Iran's nuclear program from the United States as well as Israel.

Iranian representatives will meet with negotiators from Britain, France and Germany on Friday, days after they threatened to restore economic restrictions.

The Iranian government continues to insist that enrichment is a "matter of national pride," and any nuclear capabilities would be used for scientific purposes rather than weapons. Iran’s state media has continued to say that the country will pursue uranium enrichment as it is "a key policy of the current government,