Great Britain, France and Germany launched a 30-day process on Thursday to re-impose the United Nations sanctions against Iran on its disputed nuclear program, a stage likely to light the tensions two months after Israel and the United States bombed Iran.
A senior Iranian official quickly accused the three European powers of harming diplomacy and swore that Tehran would not bow to the pressure on movement by the so-called “E3” to trigger the Snapback mechanism.
The E3 feared the prerogative otherwise losing in mid-October to restore sanctions in Tehran which were lifted under a 2015 nuclear agreement with the global powers.
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The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot, said that the decision had not reported the end of diplomacy. His German counterpart Johann Wadephul urged Iran to cooperate fully with the United Nations nuclear watchdog and to commit to directing talks with the United States over the next month.
Iran rejected this decision as “illegal and regrettable”, but said that diplomacy with Europe would continue.
On Friday, the United Nations Security Council must meet in camera at the request of the E3 to discuss this decision, diplomats said.
The E3 acted after having accused Tehran of having violated the 2015 agreement which aimed to limit its capacity of nuclear weapons in exchange for the relief of the sanctions. US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2018 agreement, the unilateral appellant, and the agreement has since held when Iran has increased the enrichment of uranium.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised E3 Pas, saying Washington was available for direct talks with Tehran. But Iran said that commitment would depend on American guarantees against military strikes during negotiations.
The Snapback process lasts 30 days before the sanctions targeting the financial, energy and defense sectors of Iran are restored, except to block.
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Israel welcomed this decision, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Saar, calling it “important step” to counter the nuclear ambitions of Tehran.
Russia and China, on the other hand, broadcast a draft resolution extending the 2015 nuclear agreement for six months and urging a return to talks, although no vote was requested.
The renewed threat to the sanctions aroused frustration in Iran, where leaders are divided between the rich advocating the confrontation and moderate exhorting diplomacy.
Iran has enriched uranium at 60% fissile purity, near the 90% weapon note, and has kept enough stock for several bombs before the strikes of Israel on June 13, according to the IAEA. Although the manufacture of a weapon takes more time, the agency says that it cannot guarantee that the Iran program is completely peaceful.
