• Iran's FM calls the Munich Security Conference a "circus" due to European powers' ineffectiveness.
• Abbas Araghchi criticizes the EU for losing influence in nuclear negotiations.
• He emphasizes that regional partners are more effective than the European troika in negotiations.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has harshly criticized the Munich Security Conference, likening it to a “circus” and accusing European powers of losing influence in the ongoing negotiations surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Araghchi expressed disappointment that the once-serious conference had devolved into a space lacking substantive discussions regarding Iran's geopolitical position, stating, “Sad to see the usually serious Munich Security Conference turned into the ‘Munich Circus’ when it comes to Iran,” according to Middle East Eye and AA.

Araghchi elaborated on his criticism by stating that the European Union (EU) and its members, particularly Germany, have become irrelevant in the dynamics surrounding negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. He remarked that the EU’s “paralysis and irrelevance” are evident, contrasting their current inaction with their past influential role in international discussions. He emphasized that “once a key interlocutor, Europe is now nowhere to be seen,” according to Al Jazeera.

The absence of Iranian officials from the conference has also raised questions regarding the geopolitical dialogue surrounding Iran. Following recent sanctions imposed by the EU, Araghchi argued that regional powers, rather than European counterparts, are now driving diplomatic efforts. He stated that Iran’s regional partners “are far more effective and helpful than an empty-handed and peripheral E3” (the grouping of France, Germany, and the UK) who have lost their ability to mediate effectively, according to Middle East Eye, AA, and Al Jazeera.