Iran fears ‘existential threat' over Britain's nuclear sanctions
Britain, France and Germany threatened Iran with crippling economic sanctions it averted in 2015 if it does not begin talks to renew the programme by the end of August 2025.
The deal gave Iran's economy much-needed relief after nearly a decade of trade and banking restrictions in return for curbs on its nuclear enrichment programme that would stop it from developing a nuclear bomb.
On Wednesday, however, the European powers told Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, they were ready to trigger a 'snapback' mechanism if Iran fails to take action by the deadline, but that they had also offered an extension if it does.
'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, [the E3] are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism,' the ministers said in the letter.
'[We] are committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon,' they added.
The warning has prompted urgent internal discussions in Tehran. 'The Islamic Republic does not have the financial or military capacity to endure the snapback of UN sanctions. It would make the people protest again and this time it might be different,' a senior Iranian official told The Telegraph from Tehran.
'They are more damaging than war,' a senior Iranian official said. 'The supreme national security council has asked the presidential office to find a way for talks before it is too late.'
The council directed the foreign ministry in July to reopen talks with the Trump administration, aiming to revive diplomacy after the war with Israel, which saw the United States intervene by bombing key Iranian nuclear sites.
Tehran and Washington held five rounds of talks starting April 12, but the sixth round was cancelled after Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13. The attacks effectively ended the diplomatic process that had shown signs of progress.
'They are asked to do whatever possible because everyone here knows the situation is not like 10 years ago when the deal was signed,' the Iranian official said.
Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, any party to the accord can restore previous UN sanctions. The most significant resolution that could be triggered is Resolution 1929. Adopted in June 2010, it expanded sanctions beyond technical nuclear restrictions to target Iran's broader economy.
The resolution required all UN members to take 'all necessary measures' to enforce Iran's enrichment ban and ballistic missile restrictions. The 'snapback' mechanism was designed as leverage to ensure Iranian compliance with the nuclear accord, which the European countries were original signatories to the 2015 deal alongside the United States, China and Russia.
Levels close to weapons grade
President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the accord in 2018 during his first term and ordered new sanctions, but the Europeans said they would stick to the agreement.
In response to Mr Trump's withdrawal, Iran started enriching uranium at levels close to weapons grade before Israel began bombing the country in June.
While the regime celebrated the end of the June war as a 'victory,' unity has quickly descended into disagreements between hardliners and moderates over the country's future. Hardliners believe they have a chance to bring the country together and show Western weakness, while moderates argue the regime should be open to dialogue.
The split became public when a senior Revolutionary Guard official criticised President Masoud Pezeshkian's statements defending negotiations. Aziz Ghazanfari, deputy political chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Mr Pezeshkian's 'verbal mistakes have increased' since taking office.
Mr Pezeshkian had asked critics: 'If you don't talk, what will you do? Do you want to fight? Well, they hit us, we rebuild, and they'll hit us again.
'I don't think we can achieve anything through fighting. We will not do anything without co-ordination and consent from the Supreme Leader, even if it goes against my own opinion,' he added.
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