Britain, France, and Germany have informed the United Nations that they are prepared to reimpose UN-mandated sanctions on Iran if a diplomatic solution for its nuclear program is not reached by the end of August. This message was delivered in a joint letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, according to a copy obtained by AFP.
The letter states that the three European powers, known as the E3, are “committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon” unless Tehran meets the deadline. The foreign ministers of these countries are threatening to activate a “snapback mechanism” from the 2015 international nuclear deal that had eased UN Security Council sanctions. Under this deal, which is set to terminate in October, any signatory has the right to restore the sanctions.
The E3 countries have intensified their warnings to Iran following its suspension of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This development followed a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, during which Israel’s aim was, in part, to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The foreign ministers, France’s Jean-Noel Barrot, Britain’s David Lammy, and Germany’s Johann Wadephul, wrote in the letter: “We have made clear 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.”
The ministers allege that Iran has breached its commitments under the 2015 deal, including accumulating a uranium stockpile more than 40 times the permitted level. In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the UN last month claiming that the European nations have no legal right to restore the sanctions, an assertion the E3 ministers have called “unfounded.”
