France, UK, and Germany Ready to Reimpose Sanctions on Iran
In a letter shared publicly by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, the E3 signaled their readiness to invoke the 'snapback' mechanism under the 2015 nuclear agreement if Iran fails to respond by the end of August.
This move follows diplomatic engagements in Istanbul last month, where the E3 sought to revive stalled nuclear discussions. Despite offering a six-month extension for direct U.S.–Iran negotiations, Iran has yet to accept the proposal.
The E3 has therefore set a clear ultimatum: either Iran re-enters serious dialogue, or the snapback mechanism will be activated before the UN's October deadline.
The snapback mechanism, embedded in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, allows parties to the 2015 JCPOA to reimpose all previously lifted UN sanctions automatically, with no veto possible. If triggered, these sanctions would affect arms, nuclear and missile imports, financial transactions, and international banking tied to Iran.
Tensions have only escalated recently. Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency has diminished in the wake of Israeli and U.S. air strikes.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have responded by warning that any attempt at invoking snapback could jeopardize Europe's continued participation in negotiations.
Further heightening the stakes, Iranian lawmaker Manouchehr Mottaki announced that if the UN does reimpose sanctions, Iran's parliament is prepared to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This threat underscores the deepening impasse and potential for broader diplomatic fallout.
The E3's firm stance reflects mounting international pressure on Iran. Western governments insist that Tehran's nuclear program poses a growing threat and that diplomacy must not be allowed to stall indefinitely.
At the same time, Iran continues to enrich uranium to higher levels and resists calls to halt its activities, asserting its program is exclusively peaceful.
With the October 18 expiry date of the dispute resolution window fast approaching, the E3's August deadline serves as a pivotal moment. Iran's response in the coming days will determine whether the region returns to sanctions-driven diplomacy—or if it can still salvage talks through renewed engagement.
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