Latest news with #nucleardeal
Asharq Al-Awsat
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Tehran, Moscow and Beijing to Discuss European Threat of Sanctions ‘Snapback'
Russia, China, and Iran are holding crucial consultations in Tehran on Tuesday to coordinate their positions ahead of the European Troika meeting in Geneva next week, focusing on discussions related to the threat of reimposed UN sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal's snapback mechanism. Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, have warned they would use the mechanism, which would reimpose international sanctions on Iran, if there was no progress on nuclear talks by the end of August. Russian experts warned forceful pressure on Iran would only further exacerbate the situation, pushing Tehran to take steps that would most likely derail chances of a new nuclear deal. Lately, Iran has not been impressed with Russia's support as the country wants Russian President Vladimir Putin to do more to back it against Israel and the United States. Observers have questioned the Kremlin's ability to provide serious assistance to the Iranians amid Moscow's preoccupation with the war in Ukraine, and its unwillingness to engage in a direct confrontation with the United States and Israel. Ahead of Tuesday's meeting in Tehran, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, told Izvestia newspaper that the European troika has lost the right to resume international sanctions against Iran. 'The E3 has no legal or moral right to launch the so-called snapback mechanism to reimpose anti-Iranian sanctions,' he said. The Russian diplomat added that Britain, France, and Germany, known as the E3, have repeatedly violated the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, and thus forfeited their right to trigger the snapback mechanism. Meanwhile, state-run Russian news agencies quoted the representative of the UN Secretary General, Stephane Dujarric, as saying that the countries participating in the JCPOA had not notified the world organization of their intention to launch a mechanism to restore sanctions against Iran. 'Thus, for now, such threats from Europe remain at the level of words. It is likely that this is an attempt to play on Iran's fears and scare the elite with the return of sanctions,' orientalist Leonid Tsukanov told Izvestia. He added that despite the fact that the 'snapback mechanism' implies an 'instant return' to sanctions, the launch process itself takes about 30 days. In return, some Russian observers say the E3 rush to implement the snapback before October, when Russia assumes the Security Council presidency. 'The rush of the European powers is due to the desire to fully introduce the mechanism until the moment when Russia takes over the presidency of the Security Council, that is, until October 2025,' Tsukanov said. In this case, he added, the troika proceeds from the fact that its actions are legitimate, since the United States withdrew from the deal unilaterally in 2018, and Iran has significantly reduced its obligations over the past few years. Russian Mediation The E3 had promised not to impose sanctions if Tehran removes about 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60% from the country, and also agrees to resume monitoring by the IAEA, which Iran has suspended, according to Axios. When the initial Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was concluded, Moscow and Tehran agreed to export to Russia low-enriched uranium produced in Iran with a volume of more than 300 kg, Ulyanov recalled. He did not rule out that the Russian Federation may reimpose this agreement. 'In principle, I see no reason why such a scheme could not continue to be implemented if it would help resolve differences between Tehran and the Westerners over the Iranian nuclear program,' the diplomat said. Ulyanov also said that Russia agrees to mediate between Iran and the United States to resolve the issue surrounding the nuclear deal at the request of both sides. 'Of course, we are ready to help resolve the problems surrounding the Iranian nuclear program through political and diplomatic means. We have been following this line for many years now, and it has repeatedly brought positive results. We are ready to play a mediating role now, if both contracting parties request it,' he said. Recently, reports suggested Western countries could turn to Russia for guarantees that Iran would not work on developing nuclear weapons, Ulyanov noted. However, according to him, such guarantees will be extremely difficult to implement. 'I don't know anything about such requests. It is quite difficult to imagine how this idea can be put into practice. At the end, such guarantees should be provided by Iran, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose mandate includes verifying the use of atomic energy exclusively for peaceful purposes,' the diplomat added. Meanwhile, Farhad Ibragimov, an expert in Oriental studies, told Izvestia that the ultimatum of the European troika and further threats from Washington may lead to Iran withdrawing from the nuclear deal and becoming actively engaged in its nuclear program. In this regard, Moscow and Tehran held several meetings aimed at clarifying their positions, and to assess Russia's ability to support Tehran amid the escalating Western pressure. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and his Iranian counterpart Aziz Nasirzadeh discussed strengthening military cooperation at a meeting in Moscow, Russian state news agency RIA reported on Monday, citing the Iranian ambassador. The meeting followed talks on Sunday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on the situation in the Middle East and issues surrounding Iran's nuclear program. Iran hopes that Russia and China as members of the JCPOA, as well as permanent members of the UN Security Council, can play a role in any process within the Security Council. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran, Moscow and Beijing had held 'constructive consultations' over the past year, discussing the possible reintroduction of the UN Security Council's sanctions on Iran. This came as conflicting reports emerged about Russia's stance regarding the enrichment of uranium in Iran. On Sunday, Russia rejected an Axios report saying Putin has told both US President Donald Trump and Iranian officials that he supports the idea of a nuclear deal in which Iran is unable to enrich uranium. Another difference emerged when Moscow announced that Putin had not received a letter from Khamenei during a previous visit by Iran's foreign minister to Moscow. Also, Iran has not been impressed with Russia's support so far, Iranian sources said, and the country wants Putin to do more to back it against Israel and the United States. The Farhikhtegan newspaper, whose editorial board is headed by the Iranian leader's senior adviser on international affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, revealed details of the Khamenei letter, before later deleting it. The newpspaer said Araghchi had conveyed the Supreme Leader's 'discontent' over what Tehran considered Moscow's shortcomings during the recent war with Israel. Alexander Baunov, a former Russian diplomat and Kremlin watcher, wrote that 'the Kremlin realizes that Israel and the United States are willing to make more efforts to destroy the Iranian regime than to save it.' He said the recent military confrontation between Israel, the US and Iran has put Putin in front of very difficult choices, particularly because Iran's current adversaries are not Russia's enemies. 'This applies to Israel, the Gulf Arab states, and the Trump administration, with whom Putin still hopes to reach a big deal,' he said.
SBS Australia
15 hours ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
'National pride': Iran says it will not halt nuclear enrichment ahead of European talks
Iran has no plans to abandon its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment, despite the "severe" damage caused by United States strikes to its facilities, the country's foreign minister said ahead of renewed talks with European powers. Iran is scheduled to meet the United Kingdom, France and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, to discuss its nuclear program, with Iran accusing European countries of scuppering a landmark 2015 nuclear deal. Before the conflict, Iran and the US held five rounds of nuclear talks mediated by Oman but could not agree on the extent to which Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium. Israel and US say Iran was close to enriching to levels that would allow it to quickly produce a nuclear weapon, while Iran says its enrichment program is for civilian purposes only. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier on Tuesday AEST: "It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But obviously, we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists." "And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," he said. US President Donald Trump responded to the comments on his platform Truth Social, saying the US would carry out strikes again "if necessary". The 2015 agreement, reached between Iran and United Nations Security Council permanent members — UK, China, France, Russia and the US —plus Germany, imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. But it unravelled in 2018 when the US, during Trump's first term, unilaterally withdrew and reimposed sweeping sanctions. Though Europe pledged continued support, a mechanism intended to offset US sanctions never effectively materialised, forcing many Western firms to exit Iran and deepening its economic crisis. "Iran holds the European parties responsible for negligence in implementing the agreement," said foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei ahead of Friday's talks in Istanbul on the deal's future. Iran will also host a trilateral meeting on Tuesday with representatives from China and Russia to discuss the nuclear issue and potential sanctions. The Chinese foreign ministry said China would "continue to play a constructive role in pushing relevant sides to restart dialogue and negotiations, and reach a solution that takes in account the legitimate concerns of all parties". In recent weeks, the three European powers have threatened to reimpose international sanctions on Iran, accusing it of breaching its nuclear commitments. Germany said the Istanbul talks would be at the expert level, with the European trio, or E3, working "flat out" to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution. "If no solution is reached by the end of August ... the snapback also remains an option for the E3," said its foreign ministry spokesperson, Martin Giese. A clause in the 2015 agreement allows for UN sanctions on Iran to be reimposed through a "snapback" mechanism in the event of non-compliance. But the agreement expires in October, leaving a tight deadline. 'No intention of speaking with America' The UN nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country currently enriching uranium to 60 per cent — far beyond the 3.67 per cent cap set by the 2015 accord. That is a short step from the 90 per cent enrichment required for a nuclear weapon. Using the snapback clause was "meaningless, unjustifiable and immoral", Baqaei told a news conference, arguing that Iran only started distancing itself from the agreement in response to Western non-compliance. "Iran's reduction of its commitments was carried out in accordance with the provisions outlined in the agreement," he said. "At this stage, we have no intention of speaking with America." Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The IAEA says it has "no credible indication" of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran. Iran maintains its nuclear program is solely meant for civilian purposes. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its attack against Iran was aimed at preventing Iran from developing its own nuclear weapons.
France 24
a day ago
- Politics
- France 24
France's Minister in Ukraine for high-level talks amid strikes
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France 24
a day ago
- Politics
- France 24
Thailand: Sex scandal shakes Buddhist faithful
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Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Snapback Threat Deepens Iran-West Tensions Amid Warnings and Diplomatic Standoff
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.'
