Snapback Threat Deepens Iran-West Tensions Amid Warnings and Diplomatic Standoff

Asharq Al-Awsat

5 hours ago

Tensions between Iran and Western powers have escalated sharply, as the European trio - Britain, France, and Germany - hinted at reactivating the 'snapback' mechanism that would automatically reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran. The looming decision has sparked strong reactions from Tehran, with Iranian officials warning of potential retaliatory actions that may come as a surprise to some European nations.
According to diplomatic sources cited by the Associated Press, the foreign ministers of the European trio agreed during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week to reinstate UN sanctions on Iran by the end of August, should no substantial progress be made on the nuclear deal.
The snapback mechanism, part of the 2015 nuclear agreement, allows any signatory to reinstate international sanctions if Iran fails to uphold its commitments. The clause expires on October 18, making this summer a crucial period for decisive action.
In Tehran, the response was swift and stern. Iranian MP Ebrahim Azizi, head of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, denounced the European move as 'a hostile political action.'
He stressed that Iran has 'multiple options' and would not hesitate to use them if provoked. 'The West must refrain from such a step,' Azizi warned, 'and if they go ahead with it, our countermeasures may be unexpected for some Europeans.'
Conservative Iranian newspaper Kayhan went even further, calling for legislation to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), framing it as a necessary deterrent step.
Earlier this month, Iran's parliament passed a law to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), requiring all inspection requests to be coordinated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
This move came in response to US airstrikes on Iran's underground Fordow uranium enrichment site, as well as facilities in Isfahan and Natanz, during a 12-day war initiated by Israel on June 13.
Despite the growing tensions, some Iranian figures are urging a return to diplomacy. Mohammad Sadr, a veteran diplomat and member of the Expediency Council, stressed the need for 'serious and urgent' negotiations with the European trio.
'Given the limited time before snapback is activated, Iran must work to create conditions that prevent Europe from taking that route,' Sadr said in a media interview.
The UK, France, and Germany are all original signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal, from which US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018, arguing it was too lenient on Tehran.
Under the agreement, sanctions were lifted in exchange for strict limits on Iran's nuclear program. The snapback clause allows for the automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran is found to be non-compliant.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated on Tuesday that the trio is now in a position to justify triggering the snapback. Meanwhile, the ambassadors of the three nations met at the German UN mission this week to discuss the situation. Though no specific conditions were disclosed, the discussions signaled growing impatience with Tehran.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar urged his German and French counterparts to activate the snapback during a meeting on the sidelines of the EU ministerial council in Brussels on Tuesday.
The newspaper reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also discussed the issue with multiple world leaders. A senior Israeli official said: 'There are no longer valid excuses to delay reimposing sanctions.'
He added that Iran's previous threats to enrich uranium to 90% are now considered irrelevant. 'Even the US now supports the snapback, and the Europeans are inclined to follow suit.'