Iranian diplomats have met their counterparts from the UK, Germany, and France for nuclear talks, for the first time since Israel launched attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities in June.

Iranian and European diplomats are set to meet in Istanbul Friday to embark on the latest drive to unpick the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear program.

In an effort to de-escalate tensions, the E3 are expected to propose extending the UN sanctions deadline by several months, senior western diplomats told the Financial Times.

Western governments have long expressed concern that technological advances made in Iran’s space programme could also be used to upgrade its ballistic missile arsenal.