The United Kingdom, France, and Germany, collectively known as the E3, have commenced the reinstatement of significant UN sanctions on Iran. These sanctions were initially lifted in connection with the 2015 nuclear deal, which aimed to curtail Iran’s nuclear program. The initiation of a “snapback” mechanism will allow for the reinstatement of these sanctions within a 30-day timeframe.
Two weeks prior, the E3 warned Iran that unless a diplomatic resolution was reached by the end of August, they would move forward with this process. In response, Iran’s foreign ministry expressed concern that reinstating the sanctions would heavily disrupt its dealings with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), characterizing the decision as a “provocative and unnecessary escalation.”
Diplomatic discussions between Iran and the United States regarding the nuclear program have not resumed since June, following a period of tensions that included U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear sites and Iran’s refusal to allow UN inspectors access to its facilities. The original sanctions were lifted under the 2015 agreement, which also involved other world powers, including the U.S., UK, France, Germany, China, and the EU. However, the agreement began to unravel after the U.S. withdrew under President Trump in 2018, leading to the reimposition of sanctions and a subsequent increase in Iran’s nuclear activities.
The E3’s recent letter to the UN Security Council claims that Iran’s actions reflect a clear non-compliance with the 2015 agreement, alleging that Iran lacks legitimate civilian reasons for its high stockpiles of enriched uranium. While Iran has called for rejection of the snapback provision, it remains open to dialogue with Security Council members.
The U.S. has expressed support for the snapback process while also indicating a willingness to engage directly with Iran. Meanwhile, the IAEA and Western nations remain skeptical of Iran’s assertion that its nuclear activities are solely peaceful in nature.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gmr3z49lxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss