Britain, France and Germany are likely to trigger United Nations sanctions on Iran on Thursday over its nuclear programme according to sources, while giving Tehran 30 days to make commitments. Inspectors have returned for the first time since June, as talks have yet to yield concrete agreements.
The trio, known as the E3, met Iran on Tuesday in an effort to revive diplomacy over the nuclear programme before they lose the ability in mid-October to restore sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under a 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.
According to three European diplomats and one Western official, Tuesday’s discussions did not yield sufficient tangible commitments from Iran, though officials said there remained scope for further talks in the coming weeks.
The E3 have reportedly decided to trigger the so-called snapback of UN sanctions, potentially as early as Thursday, citing alleged violations of the 2015 deal aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
The United States and its allies argue that Iran’s nuclear activities exceed civilian needs, while Tehran denies seeking nuclear arms.
The UN process takes 30 days before sanctions targeting Iran’s financial, banking, hydrocarbons and defence sectors are restored.
“The real negotiations will start once the letter [to the U.N. Security Council] is submitted,” a Western diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A German foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed that triggering the snapback remains an option for the E3.
British and French officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Tehran has warned of a “harsh response” should sanctions be reinstated.
Nuclear inspectors return to Iran
UN nuclear inspectors have returned to Iran for the first time since Tehran suspended cooperation following Israeli and U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites in June, Iranian state media reported Wednesday.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi said inspectors were allowed into the country, though no agreement has been reached on the scope of their work or access to nuclear facilities. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told lawmakers that Tehran had not yet agreed on full cooperation with the watchdog, according to Iran's parliament news agency ICANA.
The E3 have offered to delay the snapback for up to six months to allow serious negotiations if Iran resumes full UN inspections and engages in talks with the U.S. Inspections would also aim to account for Iran’s large stock of enriched uranium, which has not been verified since the June strikes.
Iran has enriched uranium to 60% fissile purity, close to weapons-grade levels, and had sufficient material for six nuclear weapons before the Israeli strikes on 13 June, according to the IAEA. Producing an actual weapon would take longer, and the IAEA has said while it cannot confirm Tehran’s nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, there is no credible evidence of a coordinated weapons project.
Several rounds of talks were held between Iran and the United States before June. A diplomat said Iran showed signs of readiness to resume negotiations with Washington during Tuesday’s meeting with the E3, though an Iranian source said talks would only proceed if the U.S. guarantees no military strikes occur during negotiations.
Snapback
The “snapback” is a UN process that allows the automatic restoration of sanctions previously lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran if the country is found in violation. Once triggered, it gives the Security Council 30 days before sanctions on Iran’s financial, banking, energy, and defence sectors are reinstated.
Kyrgyzstan has signed a series of cooperation agreements with China and Belarus at the Fifth Forum of Regional Leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organis...
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings an...
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is "outpacing containment efforts" amid conflict, weak disease surveillance and limited...
Kazakhstan has reiterated that no existing route can replace the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which carries more than 80% of the country's crude...
Iran has strongly condemned U.S. threats to impose sanctions on and bomb Oman following reported talks between Muscat and Tehran on jointly overseeing...
Kyrgyzstan has signed a series of cooperation agreements with China and Belarus at the Fifth Forum of Regional Leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, underlining the country's growing economic engagement within the regional bloc.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is "outpacing containment efforts" amid conflict, weak disease surveillance and limited access to healthcare, according to London-based pharmacist and health commentator Thorrun Govind.
Kazakhstan has reiterated that no existing route can replace the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which carries more than 80% of the country's crude oil exports through Russia to the Black Sea.
The U.S. and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary 60-day ceasefire and nuclear talks deal, pending Donald Trump’s approval, Axios reports. Meanwhile, the GCC condemned Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. airbase in Kuwait, which Tehran said was retaliation for a U.S. strike near Bandar Abbas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says ongoing conflict, funding pressures and international travel restrictions are complicating efforts to contain a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz has taken steps towards potentially declaring a state of emergency as anti-government protests intensify in the early months of his administration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kazakhstan on Wednesday for a three-day state visit focused on energy, transport and economic cooperation with one of Moscow’s closest regional partners.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed 15 agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Astana on Thursday (28 May), including deals on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and expanded oil cooperation with Russia.
An Inca child mummy discovered high in the Andes more than a century ago has been returned to an indigenous community in north-western Argentina after spending 119 years in a museum collection.
India is expected to experience its weakest monsoon in more than a decade in 2026, raising concerns over crop production, food prices and economic growth as the country also grapples with inflationary pressures linked to the Iran conflict.
Kenyan authorities have arrested eight students on suspicion of arson following a fire at a girls’ boarding school that killed 16, according to the country’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations. The blaze, which happened in Kenya's Rift Valley, also injured dozens of students.
The British government has unveiled 300,000 new work experience and training placements for young people after a major review warned that rising youth unemployment could leave more young people disconnected from work, education and training.
Billions of dollars' worth of gold continue to be extracted illegally from Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, according to a Greenpeace study, despite President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s pledges to curb wildcat mining.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment