The foreign ministers of the E3 nations (UK, France, and Germany) have announced their preparedness to reinstate sanctions on Iran's nuclear program unless negotiations resume by the end of August, following stalled discussions and Iran's potential withdrawal from prior agreements.
E3 Nations Prepared to Reinstate Sanctions on Iran Amid Nuclear Negotiation Deadlock
E3 Nations Prepared to Reinstate Sanctions on Iran Amid Nuclear Negotiation Deadlock
The UK, France, and Germany emphasize their readiness to trigger sanctions against Iran if nuclear talks remain stalled past August.
The foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the UK have expressed their readiness to reimpose sanctions on Iran regarding its nuclear program if the country fails to resume diplomatic discussions by the end of August. Known collectively as the E3, these nations informed the UN of their determination to activate a "snapback" mechanism, which would restore prior sanctions unless negotiations recommence promptly.
In their communication to the UN, the E3 indicated they had graciously extended a deadline for negotiations to conclude at the end of August, a proposition they claim has gone unanswered by Iranian officials. Iranian lawmaker Manouchehr Mottaki claimed that, should new sanctions arise, Iran's parliament stands prepared to withdraw from the current nuclear agreement, as reported by the Iranian Defa Press news agency.
This official letter follows preliminary discussions last month in Istanbul between diplomats from the E3 and their Iranian counterparts. In the correspondence directed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the French, British, and German foreign ministers reiterated their commitment to enforce stringent sanctions unless Iran agrees to constrain its nuclear activities.
The E3 underscored their stance, stating, "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." They reiterated a dedication to utilizing "all diplomatic tools" to hinder Iran from developing nuclear weapon capabilities, which Iran has consistently denied.
Recently, Iran indicated its interest in further dialogue but insisted this could only occur after the lifting of existing sanctions and acknowledgment of its right to a civilian nuclear program. Sanctions against Iran were initially lifted in 2015 after a nuclear accord that restricted its nuclear activities and allowed international scrutiny of its nuclear sites. This agreement is scheduled to expire in October.
The United States withdrew from the deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump, citing insufficient measures to prevent Iran from forming a pathway to nuclear weaponry. Following this withdrawal, all US sanctions were reinstated, prompting Iran to incrementally breach its nuclear limitations. A report from May indicated that Iran possessed over 400kg of uranium enriched to 60%, nearing weapons-grade purity. In June, complications with both the IAEA and rising tensions with Israel and the US culminated in Iran’s parliament suspending cooperation with the IAEA.
Amidst these escalating tensions, Israel conducted strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, resulting in a brief war that further disrupted US-Iran negotiations. In response, the E3 nations intensified their warnings to Iran regarding its noncompliance with the IAEA. The BBC has reached out to the UK Foreign Office for additional comments, yet there has been no immediate response from the Iranian mission to the UN.
