European powers threaten 'snapback sanctions' if Iran doesn't return to nuclear talks

The flag of Iran is seen in front of the building of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Headquarters on May 24, 2021 in Vienna, Austria.Michael Gruber | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesFrance, the U.K. and Germany have told the United Nations they support reinstating snapback sanctions on Iran, if it doesn't re-enter dialogue with the West over its nu gram, according to reporting by the Financial Times."We have made it 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, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism," ministers of the three countries — using an acronym that describes the European signatories to the 2015 nu deal — said in a letter obtained by the FT.The reported letter was dered to the U.N

Security Council and U.N

The deal removed a number of sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs to its nu gram.They were designed to act as a guardrail: if Iran commits a "significant non-performance" of the deal, any of the JCPOA signatory countries can trigger the automatic reimposition of U.N. sanctions lifted under the agreement, and no other permanent member can veto it.The EU said in mid-July that it would start the cess of reinstating UN sanctions on Tehran from Aug. 29 if it does not make sufficient gress on limiting its nu gram

Those sanctions are set to expire on October 18 unless one of the remaining parties of the deal — Russia, China, or a member of the E3 — triggers the snapback option."'Snapback' looks set to be the word of the summer in European negotiations with Iran," Ellie Geranmayeh, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa gram at the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in a July report.What are 'snapback' sanctions?The consequences for Iran could be dire and could once more spike tensions and the possibility of conflict

Iranian officials have suggested the country could withdraw from the Nu Non-liferation Treaty (NPT) if those sanctions are reimposed.watch now5:1105:11Iran nu deal will be difficult to reach facing sanction deadlineAccess Middle EastFor its part, Tehran has said that it remains open to direct talks with the U.S. once more, but stopped short of accepting the terms to abandon its uranium enrichment gram

The sixth round of talks with the U.S. was dropped after Israel and the U.S. began bombing Iran's nu facilities in mid-June

The stakes have been raised in recent years: in the time since Trump withdrew from the deal, Iran has been enriching and stockpiling uranium at its highest levels ever, mpting the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nu watchdog, to issue numerous warnings

Tehran insists that its gram is for civilian energy purposes only, but Iran's nu enrichment has reached 60% purity, according to the IAEA — dramatically higher than the enrichment limit posited in the 2015 nu deal, and a short nical step from the weapons-grade purity level of 90%.