Britain, France and Germany plan to trigger the United Nations “snapback” mechanism against Iran as early as Thursday, according to several European and Western diplomats. The step follows their assessment that Tehran is breaching the 2015 nuclear accord aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon. Submitting a letter to the UN Security Council would start a 30-day countdown that could automatically reinstate comprehensive sanctions on Iran’s financial, oil, banking and defence sectors unless the council votes to retain the current relief. The three governments—known collectively as the E3—say they remain open to suspending the measure if Iran offers verifiable commitments on its nuclear programme within that period. Diplomats involved in talks held Tuesday said discussions with Iranian negotiators produced no tangible concessions, and one senior European official warned that only a “diplomatic miracle” could now avert snapback. The E3’s authority to reimpose UN penalties under the nuclear agreement expires in mid-October, adding urgency to their decision. Tehran, which has been enriching uranium to as much as 60% purity—just short of weapons-grade—has threatened a “harsh response” should sanctions return. While UN nuclear inspectors were allowed back into Iran this week for the first time since June, European officials said no agreement has been reached on the scope of their access or on accounting for stockpiles that the International Atomic Energy Agency estimates could be sufficient, if further refined, for multiple nuclear devices.
EUROPEAN LEADERS CLOSE TO TRIGGERING SNAPBACK PROCESS AGAINST IRAN: AXIOS
From Reuters, EU planning on reimposing sanctions on Iran: Britain, France and Germany are likely to begin the process of reimposing U.N. sanctions on Iran on Thursday, but hope Tehran will provide commitments over its nuclear programme within 30 days that will convince them to
🚨🇫🇷🇬🇧🇩🇪🇪🇺🇮🇷☢️דיפלומט אירופי בכיר אומר לי: ״מנהיגי צרפת, גרמניה ובריטניה קרובים מאוד להחלטה על הפעלת מנגנון הסנאפ-בק להטלה מחדש של הסנקציות של מועצת הביטחון של האו״ם על איראן. יידרש נס דיפלומטי כדי למנוע מזה לקרות״