The EUROPEAN POWERS have written to the UNITED NATIONS warning of the possible use of the 2015 NUCLEAR DEAL’s SNAPBACK MECHANISM.
The major European powers informed the UN that if no DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION is reached by the end of AUGUST, they are prepared to RESTORE UN SANCTIONS on Iran’s NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
In a letter to UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES and the UN SECURITY COUNCIL, the three European powers said they are “DETERMINED to use all DIPLOMATIC TOOLS at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a NUCLEAR WEAPON” unless Tehran meets the DEADLINE.
The so-called E3 GROUP of foreign ministers threatened to use the SNAPBACK MECHANISM, part of the 2015 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT that had eased UN SECURITY COUNCIL SANCTIONS. Under the deal, which expires in OCTOBER, any party to the agreement can REINSTATE SANCTIONS.
The three nations have stepped up warnings over Iran’s suspension of cooperation with the INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA).
This comes after ISRAEL launched a 12-DAY WAR with Iran in JUNE, partly aimed at destroying its NUCLEAR CAPACITY. The UNITED STATES also carried out BOMBING during the conflict.
“We have made it clear that if Iran is not prepared to reach a DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION before the end of AUGUST 2025, or fails to take advantage of the extension opportunity, the E3 is ready to ACTIVATE the SNAPBACK MECHANISM,” French Foreign Minister JEAN-NOËL BARROT, UK’s DAVID LAMMY, and Germany’s JOHANN WADEPHUL wrote in the letter.
The three countries, along with the US, CHINA, and RUSSIA, signed the 2015 JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION (JCPOA), which offered INCENTIVES in exchange for slowing Iran’s URANIUM ENRICHMENT toward a nuclear weapon.
President DONALD TRUMP withdrew the US from the deal in 2018 during his first term and imposed NEW SANCTIONS.
The European countries said they remained committed to the deal. But their letter outlined violations by Iran, including STOCKPILING URANIUM at levels 40 TIMES higher than allowed under the 2015 agreement.
“The E3 is fully committed to a DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION to the crisis caused by Iran’s nuclear program and will remain engaged to reach a solution through negotiations.
“We are equally ready, and have clear LEGAL GROUNDS, to notify Iran’s significant NON-PERFORMANCE under the JCPOA […] thereby triggering the SNAPBACK MECHANISM if no satisfactory solution is reached by the end of AUGUST 2025,” the ministers wrote in the letter, first reported by the FINANCIAL TIMES.
IAEA COOPERATION
The US had already engaged with Iran over its nuclear activities, which Tehran insists are not aimed at obtaining a weapon.
But the talks were halted after ISRAELI STRIKES on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June.
Even before the attacks, INTERNATIONAL POWERS had expressed concern over the lack of ACCESS for IAEA inspectors.
After the strikes, Iran stopped all cooperation with the IAEA, though it announced that the agency’s DEPUTY CHIEF is expected in Tehran to negotiate a NEW COOPERATION AGREEMENT.
Iran’s Foreign Minister ABBAS ARAQCHI sent a letter to the UN last month, claiming European countries have no LEGAL RIGHT to reinstate sanctions.
The European ministers dismissed the claim as “BASELESS.”
