E3 warns may reimpose sanctions on Iran over stalled nuclear talks
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The E3, France, Germany, and the UK, warn they will reimpose sanctions on Iran through the UN snapback mechanism if Tehran does not return to nuclear negotiations.
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Iran's national flag waves in Tehran, Iran, March 31, 2020. (AP)
France, Germany, and the UK have told the United Nations they are prepared to trigger the reimposition of sanctions on Iran unless Tehran resumes nuclear negotiations with them. The warning comes as the October 18 deadline for the expiration of UN sanctions approaches.
In a letter obtained by the Financial Times to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council, the foreign ministers of the three countries, collectively known as the E3, said they were ready to activate the snapback mechanism if Iran did not take action before the end of August 2025. They also offered Tehran an extension to avoid the automatic reimposition of sanctions.
“We have made it clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism,” the ministers wrote.
The letter was signed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and UK Foreign Minister David Lammy. It comes two months after the US and “Israel” struck nuclear sites in Iran.
A source spoke to Iran's Tasnim News on July 20 that Iran and the E3 have agreed to restart nuclear negotiations, but discussions regarding the time and location of the upcoming talks remain ongoing.
Background on the Iran nuclear program and past agreements
The Iran nuclear program has been at the center of international diplomacy since the 2015 nuclear deal, which placed limits on Tehran’s enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
In 2018, former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, while Europe failed to abide by the stipulations of the deal, leading Tehran to scale back on its commitments following the E3's inaction.
UN sanctions are set to expire on October 18 unless one of the remaining parties, the UK, Germany, France, Russia, or China, triggers the snapback mechanism.
Iran’s response and warnings to Europe
Following talks in Istanbul last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the E3’s position, saying they had “no legal or moral grounds” to trigger the mechanism and warning that Iran would exclude the European powers from future Iran nuclear negotiations if they went ahead.
“With the Europeans, there is no reason right now to negotiate because they cannot lift sanctions, they cannot do anything,” Araghchi said. “If they do snapback, that means that this is the end of the road for them.”
The standoff comes in the wake of “Israel’s” war on Iran, after which Iran suspended its cooperation with the IAEA, which did not condemn "Israel" and the US' aggression on Iran and its nuclear facilities.
