France, Britain, and Germany announced on Thursday that they have activated the United Nations’ “snapback” mechanism to reinstate sanctions on Iran, accusing the country of failing to uphold its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal. The move comes amid growing international concern over Tehran’s escalating nuclear activities.
The European foreign ministers submitted a formal letter to the UN Security Council, stating that Iran was in “significant non-performance” of the agreement, which was originally designed to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. The process triggers a 30-day countdown that could see sanctions, suspended for a decade, fully reinstated.
Iran immediately condemned the move, warning that it would “respond appropriately.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the decision by the three European powers was “illegal and unjustified” and accused them of undermining ongoing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Tehran further warned that the escalation would harm future diplomatic engagement.
The United States welcomed the European action but emphasized its willingness to hold direct talks with Iran to seek a peaceful resolution. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that diplomacy remained on the table, noting that the snapback move was aimed at strengthening negotiations, not ending them.
Israel also backed the decision, with its UN ambassador calling it an important step toward halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Analysts, however, noted that recent Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities had caused only limited damage, leaving much of Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile intact.
France, Britain, and Germany stressed in a joint statement that Iran has “no civilian justification” for its growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium, calling it a direct threat to international peace and security. They emphasized that the snapback decision does not close the door to diplomacy, as negotiations may still occur within the 30-day window before sanctions are formally reimposed.
The 2015 nuclear deal has faced setbacks since former US President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018. Iran has since been accused of multiple violations, further straining international trust. With the snapback deadline looming in October, global attention now turns to whether renewed sanctions will push Tehran back to the negotiating table or deepen the crisis.
