Istanbul (Turkey), 25 July (LaPresse/AP) – Iranian and European diplomats met today in Istanbul to launch the latest initiative aimed at breaking the deadlock over Tehran's nuclear programme. Representatives from the United Kingdom, France and Germany, known as the E3 countries, gathered at the Iranian consulate for the first talks since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which ended in June and saw US bombers strike facilities linked to the nuclear programme. The talks focus on the possibility of reintroducing sanctions against Iran, which were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Tehran's acceptance of restrictions and controls on its nuclear programme. Today's talks are taking place at deputy ministerial level, with Iran represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi. A similar meeting was held in Istanbul in May. The identity of the E3 representatives was not immediately clear, but the European Deputy Commissioner for Foreign Affairs is believed to have been present.